In a midnight raid at the BNP headquarters in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested at least seven activists from the BNP and its affiliated organizations, officials confirmed.
The DB chief, Harun Or Rashid, who led the operation, stated that the raid resulted in the recovery of around 100 crude bombs, 500 sticks, and five to six bottles of petrol. “We conducted this operation following the arson of a bus in front of Jatiya Press Club,” Harun Or Rashid informed journalists at a subsequent press briefing.
Rashid further alleged that certain groups were attempting to divert the ongoing quota reform movement for their own agendas. “We have identified those responsible and will proceed with their arrests soon,” he asserted.
Among those detained was Ronakul Islam Shrabon, a former president of Chhatra Dal.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the BNP office shortly after several explosions were reported nearby.
Reacting to the raid, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, in a virtual conference, accused the government of conducting the raid to misdirect the quota reform movement. Rizvi also alleged that the items “recovered” during the raid were planted by law enforcers.
