Police have arrested two functionaries of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal for their alleged involvement in the recent Shahbagh arson attack.
President of Chhatra Dal’s ward number 70 unit in Dhaka, Uzzal Hossain, 26, and another activist Sohel Chan, 28, were nabbed from Shantinagar and Bangshal areas respectively in the early hours of Saturday, police said.Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch Joint Commissioner Moniurl Islam told media persons that the duo was involved in many other arson attacks at various areas including at Bangshal, Kotwali, Sutrapur, Paltan, Motijheel and Ramna in capital Dhaka.
They confessed hurling petrol bombs and setting a bus on fire on Nov 28 following orders from the organisation leaders, Islam said, adding that they said six people were involved in the attack.
A Molotov cocktail was hurled at the bus on that day near Matsya Bhaban, setting it on fire with commuters inside. The incident took place during the Opposition’s blockade across Bangladesh.
Eighteen people suffered severe burns in the arson attack. Three of them later died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
So far, 13 people have died from burns sustained in arsons during the 18-Party alliance’s nationwide blockades.
Police have already arrested BNP Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi for allegedly instigating the arsons.
Several top leaders of the main opposition including Khoka, Rizvi, acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas were also accused in the case filed over the arson at Shahbagh.
DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters, “The arrestees have started to spill the names of those who have financed them and gave orders.”
He hoped further questioning would reveal more information. – bdnews24.com
