Police
50 sued over torching, vandalizing vehicles in Ctg
A case was filed against 50 people on Thursday in connection with the torching of a vehicle and vandalising two others allegedly from a procession of Chhatra Dal following the death of a Swechchasebak Dal leader during clash with police in Dhaka.
Zahidul Kabir, officer-n-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the owner of a private car which was vandalised, filed the case with Kotwali Police against 50 people including 40 unidentified ones.
Read more: 1 killed in police-BNP clash at Nayapaltan; Over 150 leaders, activists held
Earlier, a group of Chhatra Dal leaders and activists brought out a procession protesting the death of a Swechchasebak Dal leader during police action in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan on Wednesday.
They set a pick-up van afire at Almas Cinema intersection and vandalised two private cars from the procession.
Police are trying to arrest those involved in the vandalism and arson attack, the OC said.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Saiful Alam, convener of Chattogram Metropolitan Chhatra Dal, denied the allegation of vandlising and torching vehicles. He blamed Awami League activists for the incidents.
Read more: Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul
BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
Following yesterday's police action at Nayapaltan, BNP will hold a press conference on the incident this afternoon.
The press conference will be held at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member.
Yesterday, the party announced to hold a press conference at 3:30pm but it was postponed.
Read more: Drive inside BNP head office was against attempts for subversive activities, says DMP Commissioner
One person was killed and over 100 were injured, and nearly 300 BNP leaders and activists were arrested yesterday after a clash between police and opposition activists in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Read more: Fakhrul barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan office
Fakhrul barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan office
BNP Secretary General Mirza Faklhrul Islam Alamgir was barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan Central Office this morning (December 08, 2022).
Police stopped Fakhrul when he reached Bijoynagar intersection around 10:50 am, after appearing before a Dhaka court in the morning.
Police officers told the senior BNP leader that they will not allow anyone to go into the BNP office until their necessary work is done for security reasons, as they “recovered bombs” from there.
BNP central office remained vacant since last night (December 07, 2022) after the police raid, but a large number of law enforcers remained deployed in the area since this morning.
Read more: Traffic movement halted in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
A tense situation is prevailing in the area in Dhaka where traffic movement remained disrupted since Wednesday night following the clash between BNP activists and police.
No one is being allowed to enter the area without ID, as police have set up barricades at the Nightingale intersection in Bijoynagar and Fakirapool. No vehicles were seen in front of the BNP office.
No BNP leaders and activists have been seen at the party office since this morning, after the clash.
Most offices, shopping malls and shops in the area were closed till 10 am this morning.
Read more: 1 killed in police-BNP clash at Nayapaltan; Over 150 leaders, activists held
Locals said that they are panicked as a huge number of policemen are taking position in the area. They were also facing difficulties in going to their respective destinations.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday claimed that two leaders of their party’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were killed and over 100 others were injured in an attack by police when bullets were fired in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Besides, he said, around 600 BNP leaders and activists, including party's senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and north city unit convener Amanullah Aman, were arrested from the party office.
The DMP commissioner, meanwhile, said BNP men exploded cocktails from their party office and for that the drive was carried out.
Read More: BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
“We beefed up security by increasing the number of police. It was an official day, and they (BNP) didn’t take prior permission to hold the rally”, he said.
Over 300 BNP leaders, activists held: Police
Police said they detained over 300 leaders and activists of the BNP from the party's Nayapaltan headquarters after a clash between the party men and law enforcers on Wednesday afternoon.
The detained leaders included BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie.
After the raid on the BNP office following the clash, Harun or Rashid, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) additional commissioner (detective branch), told the media that many of the detainees were accused in different cases, and there are arrest warrants against them.
Also, police seized 15 unexploded cocktails from the BNP office and 1.50 lakh bottles of drinking water during the raid, he added.
Earlier Biplob Kumar Sarkar, joint commissioner (operations) of DMP, told the media that they stayed in Nayapaltan to deal with the overall situation with "patience and were provoked at one stage."
"The BNP men hurled bombs at the law enforcers from the third floor of the party's central office during a chase and counter chase. We seized many bombs that were kept at the office for carrying out subversive activities," he added.
In the afternoon, the BNP activists gathered in front of their headquarters and started chanting slogans at Nayapaltan. Sensing that the situation could turn volatile, police asked the party members to leave the area immediately. This resulted in a heated argument, and at one point police started beating the activists with batons to disperse them.
Taking shelter in nearby lanes, the BNP activists started throwing brickbats in return. To quell the protesters, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets towards them, which injured around 50 people.
Read more: BNP to stage countrywide demo Thursday protesting police action at Nayapaltan
Falling sick due to inhaling tear gas, some 200 activists took shelter inside the BNP office. Later, police conducted a raid inside the office and arrested about 300 activists along with party leaders.
Also, police obstructed Mahmudur Rahman Manna-led Ganatantra Mancha at the Nightingale Intersection of the capital from advancing towards Nayapaltan.
Read more: We know why 'BNP is orchestrating violence' ahead of December 10: Quader
Police raid hotels in Banani, Motijheel
Police said they conducted "block raids" on several hotels in Banani and one in Motijheel in the capital Saturday night, suspecting the presence of militants, wanted criminals, and drug peddlers.
Police suspect that members of banned militant outfits, drug dealers, and wanted criminals are staying in several hotels and messes in Banani's Kakoli, according to Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner (DC) of the Gulshan Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
They barricaded different roads and set up check posts on different roads in Gulshan and Banani, including the one near BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's Gulshan residence.
"The raids started at 9pm and will continue. No one has been arrested so far," Ahad said.
Police also started conducting a raid in a hotel near Motijheel's Doinik Bangla intersection suspecting the presence of criminals, Yasir Arafat, officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station said, adding: "The drive will continue."
Police are conducting 15-day operations in hotels across Bangladesh to ensure security ahead of Victory Day.
Read more: Kuakata hotel & eatery owners go on indefinite strike over raids
IGP hands scholarships to meritorious children of police families
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Saturday called upon the meritorious students to come forward to fulfill the dream of making Bangladesh a developed, prosperous country in 2041 .
The IGP made the call while addressing the 'Bangladesh Police Merit scholarship-2022' awarding ceremony for the meritorious children of police families at Rajarbagh Bangladesh Police Auditorium this morning as chief guest. Additional IGP Kamrul Ahsan presided over the programme.
In his speech, the IGP addressed the meritorious students directly, saying: "If you (Students) have patriotism, you can fulfill your duties by being dedicated to the country even if you are outside the country. Just as you have brightened the faces of your parents with good results, you have also to be diligent in brightening the image of the country."
Read more: Kabaddi can play vital role in building drug-free society: IGP
AIG (Education, Sports and Culture) Md. Sohail Rana delivered the welcome speech. Additional DIG Shahina Amin and ADC ABM Zakir Hossain of DMP spoke among the parents of meritorious students.
From the meritorious children who received the scholarships, Md. Abul Hasnat and Nazia Mumtahina, who succeeded in the SSC examination, and Mallik Faiz Islam Meehan and Farzana Haque who did similarly in the HSC, spoke on rthe occasion.
Additional IGs, senior police officers and meritorious students and their parents were present on the occasion.
No question of Khaleda Zia joining Dec 10 rally: BNP
Though the country’s political landscape has become overheated with some opposition leaders’ fiery comments about the participation of Khaleda Zia in her party’s much-talked-about rally in the capital on December 10, BNP senior leaders say they never had any plan to take her to their programme.
They also said their December-10 rally in the capital is similar to 9 other divisional programmes of BNP where party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address as chief guest and announce the party’s next course of action.
However, the party leaders are determined to hold the rally at Nayapaltan in front of their party headquarters instead of Suhrawardy Udyan.
The BNP senior leaders said they want to hold the rally peacefully avoiding any type of chaos as they will initiate the second phase of the movement to realise their demand for a polls-time neutral government and the resignation of the government after the December-10 programme.
“We don’t have any different plan about our Dhaka rally. It’s like other divisional rallies. I don’t know why the ruling party leaders and some media are talking about our chairperson’s participation in the rally. Our standing committee never discussed this issue and we never had any such plan,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Talking to UNB, he said they are moving ahead with a plan for a peaceful gathering to reach their desired goal.
He said they will not give anyone any scope to divert their movement to a a different direction by creating any trouble. “We’ll neither fall into Awami League’s trap nor take any imprudent move.”
Political mercury has started rising since Dhaka North City unit BNP convener Aman Ullah Aman at a programme on October 8 last announced that the country will run as per the directives of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman after December 10.
Read more: If Khaleda joins BNP’s Dec 10 rally, court will take steps: Home Minister
Two days later, BNP chairperson’s adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque said Khaleda will join the December -10 rally and later some other party low-tier leaders echoed Aman and Farroque.
BNP senior leaders, however, said the remarks of Aman and Farroque about Khaleda are their personal opinions.
Amid such speculation, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday warned that the court will take steps if Khaleda, who has been temporarily freed from jail on conditions, attends the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday at a programme in Narayanganj said Khaleda was freed suspending her sentence on conditions as her family submitted an application saying she was too sick to move.
“If Khaleda Zia now joins BNP’s rally on December 10, then it’ll be proved that what was written in her family’s application was false,” he said.
In the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentence on 25 March 2020.
The government extended her conditional release from jail in the two corruption cases several times. The 76-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release from jail.
BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The party has already held eight divisional rallies while the 9th rally will be held In Rajshahi on Saturday. The BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a huge mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
Though the party sought permission to hold the rally at Nayapaltan, the government has permitted it to hold the programme at Suhrawardy Udyan on 26 conditions.
Contacted, BNP’s Dhaka south city unit BNP convener Abdus Salam said Khaleda’s participation in the Dhaka rally is nothing but speculation by media and the ruling party leaders. “No one of our responsible leaders talked about it.”
He said they are taking allout preparations to make the rally a success with the participation of lakhs of people. “It’ll surely be a peaceful programme. We’ll remain alert about all types of plots and provocations to foil our programme.”
Read more: BNP divisional rally begins at packed Barishal venue
BNP Publicity Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie said the ruling party leaders are making comments involving Khaleda with the rally as part of their political motive to mislead people.
“Madam (Khaleda) remains under house arrest and she is very sick. We never said she would take part in our programme. But the government is playing a bad game over the issue”
“We’ll also hold the rally in the capital peacefully and then return homes. We have no other plans.”
During their meeting with Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Thursday, the BNP leader said they urged him to cooperate with BNP to hold the rally at Nayapaltan. “We're determined to hold the rally at Nayapaltan. We’ve no other plan about any venue.”
Khilkhet businessman 'dies in police custody' in Uttara
A 50-year-old man died in police custody Wednesday after he was detained following a clash between two groups at Rajuk Bhaban in Dhaka's Uttara in the afternoon.
Hiron Miah, a businessman from Khilkhet, fell sick at Uttara East Police Station at 5:10pm and was declared dead after being taken to Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, Johirul Islam, officer-in-charge of the police station, said.
Hiron was detained at 4:30pm over a clash at Rajuk Uttara Bhaban, he added.
After getting a 999 call, police rushed to the spot and detained Hiron.
Forty minutes later when someone called Aminul Islam was filing a case against Hiron, the 50-year-old fell ill at Uttara East Police Station and was rushed to the hospital.
However, Hiron's family said he went to the Rajuk office to get a plan approved.
"At that time, some people beat him up and would not let him go. They later called 999 and had Hiron detained," Hiron's wife said.
Read more: Drug peddler snatched from police custody in Ctg; woman shot dead
5 Connecticut officers charged after Black man paralyzed in police van
Five Connecticut police officers were charged Monday with cruelly neglecting a Black man after he was partially paralyzed in the back of a police van, despite his repeated and desperate pleas for help.
Randy Cox, 36, was being driven to a New Haven police station June 19 for processing on a weapons charge when the driver braked hard at an intersection to avoid a collision, causing Cox to fly headfirst into a metal partition in the van.
“I can’t move. I’m going to die like this. Please, please, please help me,” Cox said minutes after the crash.
As Cox pleaded for help, some of the officers at the detention center mocked him and accused him of being drunk and faking his injuries, according to dialogue captured by surveillance and body-worn camera footage. Officers dragged Cox by his feet from the van and placed him in a holding cell prior to his eventual transfer to a hospital.
“I think I cracked my neck,” Cox said after the van arrived at the detention center.
“You didn't crack it, no, you drank too much ... Sit up,” said Sgt. Betsy Segui, one of the five officers charged.
Cox was later found to have a fractured neck and was paralyzed.
Read more: Columbus police officer fatally shoots girl swinging knife
The five New Haven police officers were charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty, both misdemeanors. The others charged were Officer Oscar Diaz, Officer Ronald Pressley, Officer Jocelyn Lavandier and Officer Luis Rivera. All have been on administrative leave since last summer.
Messages seeking comment were sent to attorneys for the officers.
Though each officer faces the same charges, some seemed to take Cox's pleas more seriously than others. Diaz, who drove the transport van, pulled over after Cox complained of his injury, spoke to him and requested that an ambulance meet them at the detention center. However, Diaz did not render medical attention to Cox as he lay face down on the floor.
The officers turned themselves in at a state police barracks Monday. Each was processed, posted a $25,000 bond and are due back in court Dec. 8, according to a news release from state police.
New Haven's police chief, speaking to reporters Monday along with the city's mayor, said it was important for the department to be transparent and accountable.
“You can make mistakes, but you can’t treat people poorly, period. You cannot treat people the way Mr. Cox was treated,” said Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
The case has drawn outrage from civil rights advocates like the NAACP, along with comparisons to the Freddie Gray case in Baltimore. Gray, who was also Black, died in 2015 after he suffered a spinal injury while handcuffed and shackled in a city police van.
Read more: Seven US police shot in deadly stand-off
An attorney for Cox's family, Ben Crump, said Monday that the New Haven officers need to be held accountable.
“It is important — when you see that video of how they treated Randy Cox and the actions and inactions that led to him being paralyzed from his chest down — that those police officers should be held to the full extent of the law,” Crump said.
Cox was arrested June 19 after police said they found him in possession of a handgun at a block party. The charges against him were later dropped.
Cox’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the city of New Haven and the five officers in September. The lawsuit alleges negligence, exceeding the speed limit and failure to have proper restraints in the police van.
Four of the officers filed motions last week claiming qualified immunity from the lawsuit, arguing that their actions in the case did not violate any “clearly established” legal standard.
New Haven officials announced a series of police reforms this summer stemming from the case, including eliminating the use of police vans for most prisoner transports and using marked police vehicles instead. They also require officers to immediately call for an ambulance to respond to their location if the prisoner requests or appears to need medical aid.
15 BNP men detained with crude bombs in C’nawabganj, say district police
Police are claiming to have apprehended 15 leaders and activists of the opposition BNP, and recovered 7 crude bombs from their possession while they were holding a ‘clandestine meeting’ on Tuesday night.
Chowdhury Jobayed Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Shibjanj police station, said acting on a tip off, they carried out a drive at a warehouse near the house of local BNP leader Ashraf Chairman in Ranihat area, when they came across the group holding a ‘secret meeting’, without specifying what made it so secret or whether any meeting that isn’t public is secret.
Read more: Six cops among 21 injured as police clash with BNP in Sherpur
Police did however identify the meeting’s agenda as focused on carrying out subversive activities”.
The 15 BNP men were detained with seven crude bombs from the warehouse during the drive, he said.
A process was underway to file a case against the detainees, the OC added.
Read more: JCD leader shot dead in clash with cops over arrest of a BNP leader in Brahmanbaria