A Dhaka court on Monday sent back three arrested BNP leaders including Hannan Shah and Rizvi to jail rejecting their bail plea and remand prayers of police in three cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel Police Stations.Magistrate Md Asaduzzaman Noor of Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court passed the order after hearing. The Magistrate directed the Investigation Officer (IO) to quiz BNP Standing Committee member retired Brigadier General ASM Hannan Shah, the party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Executive Committee member Belal Ahmad at the jail gate, within 10 days, if necessary.
Police produced the opposition leaders to the court in the morning, showing them arrested. Hannan Shah was produced seeking 20 days’ remand, Rizvi in three cases seeking and Belal was produced seeking 20 days’ remand in two cases.
The case statement says, on November 5, Motijheel Police Station Sub-inspector ASI AKM Azizul Haque filed a case with the Police Station saying that the arrestees along with 60-90 opposition activists blocked a road in front of New Anar Bakery near Kamalapur Bazar during the second spell of the 60-hour hartal (shutdown).
On September 24, Sub-inspector Humayun Kabir Hawlader filed a case with Motijheel Police Station against 53 leaders and unnamed 80-90 people.
Another IO SI Khandakar Zahid Ali alleged that the BNP leaders torched seven cars and blasted several cocktails in front of Motijheel Ideal School and College on September 24 from a procession, that also blocked the road. During vandalism, the accused attempted to kill the drivers of the vehicles.
The opposition lawyers including advocates Sanaullah Mia and Masud Ahmed Talukder have told the media men that it is a strategy to keep the leaders in jail custody for 10 days. Their names were not included in the First Information Reports, Besides, such leaders can not involve them with offences like vandalism, torching vehicles and attempt to kill anybody. – Court Correspondent
