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BNP leaders in Gopalganj’s Kotalipara have alleged that a wave of arrests and police harassment has swept the area in the aftermath of violent clashes surrounding a National Citizen Party’s rally.
On Sunday afternoon, party leaders in the Upazila accused police of arbitrarily detaining ordinary people in the guise of a politically motivated case filed after the Jul 16 confrontation.
Kotalipara BNP President SM Mohiuddin, General Secretary Abul Bashar Howlader, and municipal BNP General Secretary Oliur Rahman Howlader addressed the briefing, strongly condemning what they described as “mass arrests” and “harassment” of villagers who were not politically active.
Referring to Wednesday’s incident, Mohiuddin said: “Leaders and activists of the Upazila Awami League and its associate bodies blocked the Kotalipara–Poysharhat road and gathered at WAPDA’r Haat to stage protests and a rally. They felled trees in multiple spots to obstruct public movement.”
“In the aftermath, Kotalipara police filed a case naming 155 individuals and accusing 1,500 unnamed others. Now, under the cover of this case, ordinary villagers are being harassed and arrested indiscriminately. We strongly protest this abuse,” he added while speaking at the briefing held at the BNP's local office in Ghaghor Bazar.
Bashar said, “From what we have learned, most of those accused are ordinary citizens with no political affiliation.”
He questioned, “Who authorised this? Who is backing this move to criminalise innocent people?”
Oliur directed his comments at police, saying: “You were present during the protests. Yet you did not detain anyone on the spot. You have video footage, why not use that to identify real offenders? Instead, you’re arresting innocent people. We strongly condemn and protest this.”
He warned, “We do politics for the people. If you harass them, we will stand with the people to resist it.”