Nagar Reporter: For more than a year, the field of Chittagong politics was in the possession of the BNP. One after the other, there was a rush of leaders and activists in various programs, including rallies and marches. Pologround or Kazi Deuri, wherever—BNP called a rally, and it turned into a sea of people. That scenario changed overnight.
Since last Saturday’s mass meeting in Dhaka, the leaders and activists of the BNP and other organizations have not been seen in public. Many are now homeless due to fear of arrest. Running away here and there. Even the accused in the case, the activists who do not have a case, are not getting the courage to stay at home. Many mobile phones are also switched off. Several leaders of Chittagong, including Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, have been accused in the case filed after the clash at the Mahasambesh. On the other hand, arrests are also going on in the city. More than 20 activists have been arrested in the last two days.
In such a situation, three consecutive days of ‘total blockade’ are starting today. After a long time, BNP gave such a strict program to unilaterally demand the resignation of the government. As the leaders and activists have covered their heads, the question has arisen about how successful this program will be. But Chittagong BNP leaders are optimistic. They say that in the past they have carried out strict programs like hartal-blockade in the face of massive arrests. This time will not be an exception. As a movement strategy, the activists are trying to avoid arrest for the time being.
According to BNP party sources, there are already ‘politically motivated’ cases against thousands of BNP leaders and workers in Chittagong. From senior to junior, no one is left out of the case. Most of the leaders and activists have 5-7 cases; some have 20–30, even 50–60 cases. The number of cases in the name of former Chhatra Dal leader and current city BNP leader Gazi Mohammad Siraj Ullah is more than 100. The police and political opponents have filed these cases on various charges, including vandalism, assault, obstruction of government work, and causing explosions. Some of these cases are under investigation, and some are under trial. However, most of the activists are out on bail and are regularly participating in political events.
Along with old cases, there is a fear of new cases. Many people think that there is a danger of facing lawsuits and arrests as soon as they enter the field.
The case filed at Paltan police station in connection with the attack on the police in Dhaka and the death of a policeman has increased the anxiety of Chittagong leaders and activists. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Nagar Jubo Dal President Mosharraf Hossain are among the 164 accused named in that case. Besides, many other unknown activists have been accused in the case. According to party sources, in most of the political cases filed so far, anonymous persons have been accused. This is of greater concern. After the arrest of any of the activists, there is an opportunity to be accused in this category.
Those concerned said that since Saturday’s mass meeting in the capital, the leaders and activists of Chittagong’s BNP and its organizations have not been coming out publicly. There was picketing in some parts of the city on Sunday morning and evening, but it was for a short time. Apart from South District BNP convener Abu Sufian, no senior leader was seen on the strike ground. Nagar BNP’s party office at Nasiman Bhavan has also been without leaders and workers for two days. BNP claimed that 19 activists were arrested without warrant from different parts of the city from Saturday night to Sunday evening. Iqbal Chowdhury, a member of the convening committee of the city, was arrested on Sunday night.
