49 leaders held in countrywide crackdown
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Joint forces, in a surprise countrywide crackdown, have arrested at least 49 local leaders of the Awami League (AL), the BNP and the Jatiya Party including some union parishad chairmen, in nine districts, police said Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.
The mass arrests, under emergency powers rules (EPR), started just 17 days after the caretaker government (CG) relaxed the ban on indoor politics May 13.
Noor Mohammad, inspector general of police (IGP), told the news agency that the drive was part of efforts to prevent crime.
The police chief ruled out the allegation that the people were arrested on political grounds.
"The drive is targeted at listed criminals and extortionists," he said.
The mass arrests, under emergency powers rules (EPR), started just 17 days after the caretaker government (CG) relaxed the ban on indoor politics May 13.
Noor Mohammad, inspector general of police (IGP), told the news agency that the drive was part of efforts to prevent crime.
The police chief ruled out the allegation that the people were arrested on political grounds.
"The drive is targeted at listed criminals and extortionists," he said.