BNP slams govt for arresting Rafiqul

BNP has slammed the government for arresting its Standing Committee Member Rafiqul Islam Mia.

“The government is confining BNP’s national leaders behind bars keeping guns on the shoulder of the judiciary,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party, said in a statement tonight.

He alleged that the government is “using all its state organs” to take the upcoming general election in its favour unilaterally.

Condemning the arrest, Fakhrul urged the government to release Rafiqul immediately by withdrawing the “cocked-up” case lodged against him.

“Mia is now suffering from various complicated diseases and now it is difficult for him to move normally. In this situation, his imprisonment will put a big risk on his life,” Fakhrul claimed.

It seems that the government is heading with “an evil plan” through the arrest of Rafiqul, Fakhrul said.

RAFIQUL’S ARREST

Police arrested BNP leader Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia in Dhaka hours after a Dhaka court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment.

Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested him in Banglamotor area around 6:30pm, Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman of DMP told The Daily Star.

He was arrested following the verdict by the court, another police official said.

3 YEARS JAIL FOR RAFIQUL

Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment in a case filed against him for not submitting his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Rafiqul was also fined Tk 50,000, in default of which he will have to serve three months more in jail.

Judge Sheikh Golam Mahbub of the Special Judge Court-6 pronounced the verdict in his absence.