BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party leader AKM Fazlul Haque Milon chant anti-government slogans as they board the prison van from a Dhaka court yesterday. This is the first time so many top opposition leaders were sent to jail at once by a court.Photo: Anisur RahmanBNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 32 other high-profile opposition leaders ended up in jail after a Dhaka court yesterday rejected their bail prayers in connection with an arson case.
BNP standing committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, ASM Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra and former DCC mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka were among the leaders sent to jail. They had surrendered to the court and sought bail.
The BNP, a few hours later, called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal for today in protest. It demanded the unconditional release of its leaders, withdrawal of the cases against them and threatened tougher movements if the demands were not met. More agitation programmes could be declared today.
After the leaders were sent to jail, pro-BNP lawyers got involved in a skirmish with police on the court premises that left 10 people wounded. Police also picked up around 150 people from the court premises but released all but three later on.
Reports of violence and arson across the country also began to pop up. At least 13 vehicles were torched and around 200 others were vandalised across the country.
Before the BNP even called the hartal, Chittagong (south), Thakurgaon (hometown of Fakhrul), Pabna, Natore, Bogra and Sirajganj district BNP jumped the gun and called for daylong hartals in their districts.
"We had no plans to call a hartal. But the government forced us to do so. We are urging people to make the hartal a success," said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan while addressing a press briefing around 5:00pm at the party's central office at Nayapaltan in Dhaka.
Police kept the office cordoned off since the morning and not even BNP activists were allowed near the premises.
On April 29, police filed a case under the Explosive Substances Act with Shahbagh Police Station and an arson case with Tejgaon Police Station against the opposition leaders after crackers went off inside the Bangladesh Secretariat and a bus was torched near the Prime Minister's Office during hartal hours.
The opposition leaders, including Fakhrul, went into hiding soon after the cases were filed. They, however, got bail in the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act from the High Court.
A total of 45 leaders and workers of opposition 18-party alliance, including BNP leaders Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed; and Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmad, were accused in the arson case.
Four of the leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad, did not surrender before the court while police arrested BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and six others earlier. BNP leader Mahbub Uddin Khokan obtained bail until May 20.
At least 37 accused leaders went to the High Court for bail in the arson case but the court asked them to surrender to the lower court within May 16, noting that the lower court would decide their fate.
The accused leaders surrendered before the court around 9:30am yesterday and filed 20 petitions for bail.
During the hearing, BNP lawyer barrister Moudud Ahmed told the court that the 18-party alliance leaders and activists had been implicated in the case with the intention to politically harass them.
He said the government was trying to prevent them from being involved in active politics. He said three of the accused, including LDP President Oli Ahmad, were not even in Dhaka during the arson incident.
Moudud said the leaders posed no risk of jumping bail and hence they should be given bail.
Opposing the bail petitions, Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu told the court that according to the law, the charges brought against Mirza Fakhrul Islam and others did not allow awarding bail. The charges brought against them were in the preliminary stage proved as the investigation officer of the case on May 10 pressed charges against them, he said.
Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfanullah sent the accused to jail around 1:45pm yesterday. He fixed May 21 for passing an order on whether it would take into cognisance the charges against the accused.
The court in its order said the accused could not be given bail in view of the charges against them. It noted that the investigation officer had already pressed charges against them. It also said the charges had preliminarily been proved.
The pro-BNP lawyers and the BNP leaders and activists who gathered in and outside the court went berserk after the court passed the order. They chanted slogans demanding their unconditional release.
At one stage, police charged truncheons on the demonstrators that left the 10 people injured.
Of the injured, pro-BNP lawyer Hossain Ali Khan was moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from National Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Security was strengthened in and around the court premises prior to the surrender of the opposition leaders.
BNP BRIEFING
BNP leaders sat for a meeting at the party central office around 4:00pm yesterday and discussed their next course of action. They also talked to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia over the telephone and decided to call the hartal.
"We had no wish to call a programme like hartal considering public sufferings but we had no option to protest against the government's undemocratic and fascist attitude," said Nazrul Islam Khan at a press briefing afterwards.
BNP standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan, Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman and Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque were also present.
SENT TO JAIL
Those who landed in jail yesterday were BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, MK Anwar, Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Mirza Abbas, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Aman Ullah Aman, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne, Lutfor Rahman and Nabi Solaiman; pro-BNP student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Sultan Salauddin Tuku; LDP President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed; BJP President Andalib Rahman Partha; Swechchhasebak Dal President Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel; Jagpa President Shafiul Alam Pradhan and National People's Party Chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu, BNP leader Nazimuddin Alam; Swechchhasebak Dal General Secretary Mir Sharafat Ali Safu; Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Amirul Islam Khan Alim; Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Organising Secretary Anisur Rahman Khokan; Dhaka South Juba Dal President SM Jahangir Hossain Sarder; its General Secretary Rafiqul Islam alias Mojnu; Swechchhasebak Dal Convenor Yeasin Ali; its general Secretary Saiful Islam Nirob; DU unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Convenor Abdul Matin; Dhaka South Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal general Secretary Habibur Rashid; Dhaka North Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Kamal Anwar Ahmed; former Dhaka City Corporation ward councillors Kazi Abul Bashar, Yunus Mridha and Anwaruzzaman alias Anwar.
Bus conductor Mohammad Sohel alias Sohan Miah, bus helper Mohammad Jasim Uddin and Manik Ratan, BNP leaders Kamruzzaman Ratan, Titumir College unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Mohammad Ismail Khan Shahin, Mohammadpur thana Swechchhasebak Dal President Mohammad Mannan Hossain Shahin, and BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed were arrested earlier and sent to jail.
ABSCONDING
Those who did not surrender were Dhaka University unit JCD Joint Convenor Obaidul Haque Nasir and Jamaat-e-Islami acting Ameer Maqbul Ahmad, Chhatra Shibir leaders Nurul Islam Bulbul and Delwar Hossain Sayedee.
NO ACTING SG
Khaleda Zia last night held a meeting with party leaders but did not ask anyone to take over as acting secretary general of BNP.
She, however, asked all to work together so that the party could overcome this "crisis", meeting sources said.
"Activities of the party will continue under the leadership of Khaleda Zia," party Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman said after the meeting at Khaleda's Gulshan office.
He said fresh agitation programmes would be declared today [Thursday] but did not give any details.
Standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Rafiqul Islam Mia and Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Vice-Chairmen Hafizuddin Ahmed and Morshed Khan, chairperson's adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Supreme Court Bar Association President Zainul Abedin and Dhaka Bar Association President Sanaullah Mia were present in the meeting.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 03:35 PM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Government is trying to make this country another Somalia. Nation should unite to resist such dangerous game.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:18 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Any one breaking the law of the land must be punished by the law inforcement agencys.
Be the law breakers are politicians or judges law is for everybody to bide by.
It is high time no one should be able to do wrong and expect to get away because of their power of office or wealth. If for any reason the inforcement agencys can not follow the law fairly they should be punished as well. I hope fair justice is carried out to all lawbreakers.
All political party in our country must realise what problems they cause by calling HARTHAL in the country and the people must be educated so they can see the problems the harthal causes to the country. There must be other ways to resolve the issues than Harthal.
Khokon U.K.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:16 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Death of democracy in a country struggling to be a member of the free world. The government will be squarely blamed for this death. Is the world going to remain silent? Are the people of Bangladesh going to accept this totalitarian regime? What are civil societies in BD going to do? These are the questions today.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:05 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
The government is playing with fire and pushing the nation to long term troubles. Please avoid the anarchy.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 07:08 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
In expressing the people's demand in a democratic way of thinking is the rights of the opposition leaders. And political leaders of the opposition should get priority and scope of pressing its demand and activities in a peaceful manner in the perspective of general people's aspiration. In general, the political leaders should get bail from High Court but it was refused without pointing out valid reasons. Unfortunately, the nation has been observing two different scenario; one is the party in power has intention to exercise undemocratic authority and oppression on the opposition leaders. On the other hand, opposition in the name of Hartal is damaging people's properties, creating obstacle on the movement of the working people which ultimately hampers the suffering, pains of the messes and also affects on the livelihood and economic growth of the whole nation.
The nation wants to get rid of such undemocratic attitudes of the major two parties- opposition and party in power. It only can be possible by maintaining democratic culture and norms.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:18 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Democracy indeed!
Wholesale imprisonment of opposition leaders is plain and simple flagrant persecution at best. Shame on this disgraceful autocracy in the wrapper of name-only-democracy!
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:19 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Is this democracy?
Thursday, May 17, 2012 04:27 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
once again,awami league has shown that, how free & fair their government is!law & order situation is very critical, which very bed for any democratic country.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:26 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
The judge in question is a disgrace for the profession and should leave his post and join politics.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:45 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
BNP's last regime did the same thing with AL. Most interesting thing is histrionics is identical only dramatics personae replaced by BNP leaders. The vortex of political situation heading to an uncertain destination.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:55 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Perverted politics! The country is locked into vicious cycle.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:09 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Why are these guys allowed to swing from their vans and make such a show of their arrests? Are the law enforcement basically allowing this drama to continue?
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:39 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
BNP and all like-minded opposition must unite and remove the government and save our Nation from calamity.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:43 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
There used to be some difference between North Korea and us, now we are competing with them to become a 'dot' in the world map of failed and authoritarian states.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:44 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
AL's time is up! People of Bangladesh please rise to oppose the autocratic ministers who are against democracy and only interested in cash and corruption.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:50 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
AL is heading the nation to a civil war. Our police, Rab and other law enfrocing agencies could not trace the killer of Sagor, Runi, Ilias, Aminul and others but within few days they found people who was behind torching vehicle during hartal. None of the leaders who are arrested were present during the incident and there is no evidence so far those leaders were involved with the incident. Now a very common people can easily understand who are behind the killing.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:50 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
All of you are national heroes, nation will respect you because you are fighting for the public interests. Whole nation with all of you. thanks..
Thursday, May 17, 2012 02:28 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
So we are heading for one party rule. So-called democracy of Sheikh Hasina is going to nearing its end. When judiciary and administration are hand in gloves under the wish of Hasina and the way opposition is being gagged by the law enforcers, democracy will be stamped out forever. Under all these anarchy the opposition leader should declare an end to all activities and let the ruling party do what they like. The court order was expected. It is all one sided activity. Arrangement by state already in sight to annihilate all dissenters. If all that today goes on in Bangladesh is called democracy then it was better to have dictatorial rule. To counter such abrupt application of power right and left a third force will be welcome by the suffering mass. The sooner it comes the better.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 05:51 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
We shall crush Awami League with our peaceful protest because we are in millions and you have no jails to keep us all locked in for ever.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 09:07 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Honour is only to be obtained by giving honour in return.Hi-breed HANIF & Bald-headed KAMRUL wait for a dire consequence to face.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 06:10 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Bangladesh is going to an uncertain future. It may be going to experience a destructive experience. Both (AL & BNP) should change their mentality. Mass people should not be suffered because of their personal conflict.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 07:44 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Can Awami government crush people's movement by incarcerating opposition leaders? I doubt.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 09:01 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
so its started again . these politicians of ours will never let us live in peace. the arrogant government with their tenacious counterpart have made our life hell. thatt said ,do we common peoples any better ? God !have marcy upon us
Thursday, May 17, 2012 09:51 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
Now the govt has disclosed its fascist appearance clearly. It is our misfortune that we are living under a fascist govt. But no fascism can last for long.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:33 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
If the Judiciary is independent and free, the High Court judges could not hesitate or feel embarrass or the lower court could not take cognizance of this politically motivated case.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:51 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
The nation is tired of listening to these null and void politicians. We want respite from them. Both the parties are playing with the nation. Imprisonment of this section will be relief indeed from the time being at least. The nation is waiting for another breathing space following the payback by the opposition when they will be in power. We can expect nothing good from these politicians. Undoubtedly the cycle will continue in the foreseeable future.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:12 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
We need a Tahrir square and a leader who lead us to the democracy.
Thursday, May 17, 2012 01:23 PM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
This is a mysterious event in Bangladesh history. Can it be considered as the result of Hillary Clinton's statement? She said that US wants to see a democratic politics. Other interesting message is that a US based survey mentioned Sheikh Hasina is the popular leader in Asia. Actualy the practical message is far from this survey. So, be careful about such type of survey report.Don't be very optimistic to curb the opposition
Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:24 AM GMT+06:00 (79 weeks ago)
What are the aims and objectives of the government in persecuting the Opposition political leaders? Will such repressive measures bring political stability and peace in the country? Is there any alternative to holding constructive political dialogue with the principal stakeholders? If really people's interest is the prime concern of politics, government ought to start the process of deliberations without causing economic dislocation and sufferings to countrymen. If the government is uneasy to open a dialogue, it can seek the help of honest brokers who would be happy to act as mediators. But please do something before it is too late.