BNP alleges arrests, harassment of innocent civilians in Gopalganj's Kotalipara
The Kotalipara unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a press conference today (20 July) alleging that innocent people are being harassed and arbitrarily arrested in Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj district.
Speaking at the press conference held at the party's local office in Ghaghor Bazar, Kotalipara BNP President SM Mohiuddin, General Secretary Abul Bashar Hawlader, and Municipal BNP General Secretary Oliur Rahman Hawlader presented their concerns.
SM Mohiuddin claimed that on 16 July, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations staged a protest rally on the Kotalipara-Poysharhat road, blocking the route and cutting down trees at several points, disrupting public movement.
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Following this, Kotalipara police filed a case naming 155 individuals and accusing around 1,500 unidentified people.
The BNP leaders alleged that under this case, law enforcement is now harassing and arresting ordinary citizens in the name of investigation.
"We strongly condemn this abuse and demand an immediate end to the harassment," Mohiuddin said on behalf of the party.
"As far as we know, the majority of those accused are not involved in politics. They are ordinary people. So how were these innocent individuals implicated, and with whose help?" Prothom Alo quoted upazila BNP General Secretary Abul Bashar Howlader as saying.
Kotalipara Municipality BNP General Secretary Oliur Rahman Howlader also criticised the law enforcement agencies, saying, "You were present during the protest, yet you failed to arrest anyone on the spot. You have video footage of the incident; you could have identified and apprehended those involved. Instead, you are targeting and arresting innocent people. We strongly condemn and protest this action."
Issuing a warning, Oliur added, "We do politics for the people. If you harass the very people we represent, we will stand with them and resist it."
In response to these allegations, Kotalipara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Kalam Azad said, "We are not carrying out mass arrests. We are arresting only those directly involved in the incident. So far, 30 individuals have been detained. How this can be mass arrests?"
