Police-BNP clash: DMP files 13 cases against over 700 people

At least 13 cases have been filed against over 700 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over the violent events that unfolded around the BNP's sit-in programme at major entry points of the city.

The cases were filed for clashes, vandalism and arson attacks that took place on Saturday (29 July), confirmed KN Niyoti Roy, additional deputy police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Media and Public Relations division.

As of this afternoon, two more cases were filed with the Demra and Darus Salam Police Station, where police accused 52 named persons and another 107 BNP men in the cases.

The other cases were filed at the Kodomtoli, Jatrabari, Uttara West, Uttara East, Bongshal, Airport and Sutrapur police stations.

A total of 469 accused have been named and another 70-80 unnamed persons were made accused in the cases filed. Senior leaders of the BNP were dropped from the cases.

Another 407 were named accused, including Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Aminul Haque, and Abdul Salam, with 109 of the same persons named in two separate cases.

"Apart from these filed cases, preparations are underway to file several cases in several other police stations (Darus Salam, Demra and Uttara West police stations)", said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) of DMP Media and Public Relations Department Md Farooq Hossain.

When asked if measures will be taken against those Awami League leaders and activists who were seen armed and engaging in the clashes, Farooq replied that they had to involvement in the police's activities.

Cases filed against 200 BNP leaders, activists in Savar

Three separate cases have been filed in Savar and Ashulia Police Stations against at least 200 leaders and activists of BNP in 3 separate incidents of recovery of 6 cocktail-like explosives from the Aminbazar area of ​​Savar, bus arson and vandalism in ​​Ashulia and rickshaw burning in Rasayan Mor area.

In the case filed at Savar Model police station, 40/45 people including former Vice President of Dhaka District BNP Kofil Uddin, former BNP lawmaker Dewan Salahuddin Babu, former joint secretary of Dhaka district BNP Khorshed Alam have been charged, a police source confirmed.

In Ashulia,  the owner of the damaged bus filed a separate case against 25/30 BNP leaders and activists in connection with the burning and vandalism of the bus on Saturday afternoon, confirmed Deepak Chandra Saha, Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC).

On the same day in Tonga Bari, Rasayan Mor, police filed a case with the Ashulia police station naming 30 BNP leaders and activists and 100/150 unnamed accused for burning a rickshaw.

On 28 July, BNP announced sit-ins at major entry points to Dhaka on Saturday as part of its all-out movement to oust the Awami League government and to hold the upcoming national election under a non-partisan government.

The five-hour sit-in programmes ended in violent clashes with police, alongside incidents of vandalism and arson.

In Matuail, police fired 60 rounds of teargas shells and 351 rounds of shisha and rubber bullets, mentioned in the case.

Police fired 138 rounds of short kartooz guli, 8 rounds of tear shells and three round button shells at the Dholaipar area where Goyeshwar was beaten.

BNP claimed that more than 200 party men, including Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Chairperson's Advisory Council Member Amanullah Aman, were injured in attacks during the programmes.

They also claim that 124 leaders and activists, including Organising Secretary Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, were arrested by the police.

BNP announced to hold rallies across the country on Monday to protest against the alleged attacks on BNP leaders and activists during its sit-in programmes in the capital on Saturday.

Earlier, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced AL's nationwide demonstrations in response to the "anarchy and arson violence carried out by BNP and Jamaat."