Police have arrested BNP-endorsed Dhaka councillor aspirant ALM Kawsar Ahmed in Mirpur, who is accused in five cases filed over acts of sabotage.
DMP earlier said they would arrest city polls candidates, accused in cases, if they do not secure bail from court.
The BNP, which boycotted the 2014 parliamentary elections but endorsed candidates for the city polls, has criticised the police stance.
It demands bail for its aspirants for a “level playing field”.
It alleged police were favouring candidates endorsed by a particular party but police have denied the charge.
Ahmed’s arrest on Thursday is the first after campaigns for the much-hyped Apr 28 polls to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations started.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has directed police not to harass candidates without reason but not to spare anyone violating the law.
Mirpur Police Station OC Salahuddin Ahmed confirmed the ward number 11 councillor aspirant’s arrest.
He said the BNP leader had been charged with acts of sabotage in as many as five cases.
A BNP leader said that police arrested Ahmed, also the party’s Mirpur unit vice-president, at Paikparha when he was campaigning after Asr prayers.
Ahmed was endorsed by the BNP’s ‘Adarsha Dhaka Andolan’ (ideal Dhaka movement), formed to support candidates in the polls.
The movement’s convener Emajuddin Ahamed has condemned the arrest and demanded his release. – bdnews24.com
