Leaders of different political parties in separate statements to the press expressed their concern over the personal security of Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman and demanded of the government to clarify its position on his Monday night arrest by plainclothes men.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna was picked up by some plainclothesmen from the residence of his niece at Banani area of the city at 3am on Tuesday telling the family they were taking him to Detective Branch office. The Detective Branch however told journalists in the morning that it knew nothing about the said arrest.ASM Abdur Rob, president and Abdul Malek Ratan, general secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in a statement to the press demanded a statement on the whereabouts of Mahmudur Rahman Manna. The said that the nation was extremely concerned with Manna’s family that the DB police did not admit his arrest.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, executive president and Mostafa Mohsin Montu, general secretary of Gono Forum in a similar statement said they were extremely concerned regarding the whereabouts of Manna as police was not admitting his arrest.
Demanding a statement on the whereabouts of Manna they said the nation wanted to know whether he was detained or arrested. They said they were concerned that after picking Manna up from Banani his arrest or detention was not being confirmed.
Making the same demand at a press conference Iftekhar Ahmed Babu, member of the central committee of Nagorik Oikya said they were quite sure that law enforcing agency detained Manna.
Replying to a question he said they were aware of the telephonic conversation of Manna, but it was presented in a section of the press in a distorted way. It said fairness demanded that Manna was given an opportunity to clarify his position, but he was not given that. Instead smokescrean was created over the same, he said.
Jagpa president Shafiul Alam Prodhan in a statement said the people wanted to know where Manna was not after being picked up by plainclothesmen. He sought to know why a respected political leader was picked up in the dead of night and why the agencies were not admitting his arrest. He said the people do not believe that police does not know the incident.
Prodhan said that at the present juncture of movement for democracy there was no room for neutrality and urged all to join the movement and make it a success. – Staff Reporter
