Sylhet Bureau

BNP and his associate organisations has become cornered amid arrests in Sylhet Division. The BNP leaders and workers of Sylhet were involved in a lawsuit for a one-point demand for the resignation of the government before the elections. Leaders and activists arrested in these cases started getting bail after the elections, but many are still in jail. They have to suffer while running the cases. According to the party's calculations, about 27 thousand leaders and activists have been arrested in 11 cases in the last 5 months. And in the last decade, about 1,300 activists including policy makers have been punished.

The picture of politics began to change after the BNP's general meeting was held in Dhaka on October 28 last year to implement the one-step implementation of the fall of the government.

The top level leaders of BNP in the four districts of Sylhet division said that at least 138 cases have been registered in the four districts of the division since October 28 till before the national elections. At least 3 thousand 800 leaders and workers of BNP have been accused in these cases. 650 people were arrested. Of them, 540 have been granted bail till last Tuesday, but 110 are still in jail.

Several leaders of the local BNP said that after the clashes surrounding the BNP's general meeting in Dhaka on October 28 last year, most of the leaders and workers were in hiding to avoid arrest. Because of this, those who were businessmen or professionals, had to suffer more. Many of those arrested in various cases were the sole breadwinners of the family. Therefore, the family members of many leaders and workers who are still in prison are in financial distress.

Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Qaium Chowdhury was given the responsibility of coordinating the movement program of the department before the elections. He said that the government wanted to upset the local BNP and top level leaders and activists by filing one case after another. Ignoring the cases and arrests, everyone was on the streets. However, the party is providing legal assistance to all.Talking to the leading people of four districts of BNP, it is known that about 2000 leaders and activists are accused in 70 cases in Sylhet district and metropolis. 350 of them were arrested. 250 of them have been released on bail.

According to BNP leaders, around 500 people were accused in 25 cases in Habiganj district. 150 people were arrested in this district. Out of them 145 have been released on bail. About 900 people were accused in 23 cases in Sunamganj. 100 of them were arrested. Currently all have been released on bail. On the other hand, about 400 people were accused in 20 cases in Moulvibazar district. 50 of them were arrested. 45 of those arrested were released on bail.

It has been found that the Nationalist Lawyers Forum and party-affiliated lawyers have formed a 'Legal Aid Cell' to get bail for the arrested leaders and activists. Free legal assistance is provided to leaders and workers through this cell. Local leaders are managing this cell by collecting subscription among themselves. This cell is providing all the expenses of providing legal assistance to the leaders and workers.

Sunamganj district BNP general secretary Nurul Islam, Moulvibazar district BNP general secretary Mizanur Rahman and Habiganj district BNP convening committee member Salim Ahmad said that after October 28, the party's leaders and workers were in the field as per the central instructions despite the setback due to cases, attacks and arrests. However, the party is trying to get bail for the leaders and activists who are still in jail. Apart from this, the harassment of the police increases when the new program of the party comes.

Meanwhile, pro-BNP lawyers said that all cases have been filed by the police under the Special Powers Act or the Explosives Act. Almost all of the BNP leaders and activists arrested in Habiganj, Sunamganj and Moulvibazar have been released on bail. However, many of the leaders and activists arrested in Sylhet district are still in prison.

Among the leaders of Sylhet BNP who are in jail, there are many people including Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, District Seccasebak Dal convener Abdul Ahad Khan, Metropolitan Member Secretary Afshar Khan, Mahanagar Chhatra Dal General Secretary Fazle Hasan Rabbi. They were arrested at different times in last October and November before the election.

District BNP general secretary Emran Ahmed Chowdhury is the chief coordinator of the 40-member support cell formed in Sylhet to provide legal assistance to the arrested BNP leaders and workers. Mentioning that the families of the arrested leaders and activists are being helped in various ways, he said, many leaders and activists were arrested in one case and arrested in more cases filed in the past.
In Sylhet Metropolitan and District Courts we have to wait for one to one and a half months to get the date of the case as well as the date of the miss case. Apart from this, no bail is being given to any of the accused. So they have to go to high court.