119 BNP men arrested in Bogura, Habiganj

As many as 119 leaders and activists of the BNP and the Jatiya Oikya Front have been arrested in Bogura and Habiganj districts, reports UNB.

In Bogura, law enforcers picked up 79 BNP-Jamaat men during an overnight drive on Tuesday in connection with violence cases.

Oikya Front candidate from Bogura-2 constituency and convener of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur RahmanManna alleged that police were making mass arrests to create a 'frightening' atmosphere in his area.

Officers-in-charge of Shibganj and Sadar police stations Mizanur Rahman and Badiuzzaman said most of the detainees were accused in lawsuits for violence.

In Habiganj, police arrested 40 supporters of Oikya Front candidate for Habiganj-1 Reza Kibria, also son of slain finance minister and Awami League leader Shah AMS Kibria, in the evening.

Sohrab Hossain Mahdi, personal secretary of Reza, said law enforcers conducted a raid on Reza's house around 4:30pm.

Several thousand people rushed to Reza's house after the police drive was announced through loudspeakers of a local mosque which forced police to retreat, said locals.

Later in the evening, police raided the motorcade of Reza at Baghaura village during his electioneering and arrested 40 of his supporters, said Mahdi.

Officer-in-charge of Nabiganj police station Iqbal Miah said they were searching for wanted criminal Mujibur Rahman Shefu at Reza Kibria's house.

Police returned back as the listed criminal was not present there, he added.