Dhaka, Mar 6 (Just News): A human chain had formed in front of the National Press Club at noon today, Tuesday, demanding the release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other central leaders were present at the programme.
There were a number of journalists, a few BNP leaders and others within the club premises.
A number of outsiders entered the press club premises in plainclothes and suddenly grabbed Shafiul Bari Babu, president of the BNP-affiliated Shwecchashebok Dal.
There was confusion at the outset, but the situation took a turn when some persons hurled bike helmets at the plainclothesmen.
The plainclothesmen immediately drew out firearms. Brandishing their weapons, they shouted out that they were members of the police. They chased the few persons who were within the press club premises. Gradually the chaos subsided, but the police did not release Shafiul Bari. He was taken from there to the police’s Detective Branch (DB) office on Mintoo Road.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s public relations and media division deputy commissioner Masudur Rahman said that Shafiul Bari had been picked up at the press club and brought to the DB office on Mintoo Road.
Newsmen who had been on the spot said they initially didn’t understand who the armed persons were. They thought it was some kind of sabotage. But then the armed men revealed their identity by shouting out, “We are the police, we are the police!”
Eyewitnesses said that many persons rushed out of the club premises, chased by the police. Many moved away from the BNP gathering outside too.
(Justnews/ys/2320)
