Clicky
National, Front Page

BNP, Jamaat plan to use terrorists during polls

Intelligence claims; combined operation from Thursday


Published : 29 Jan 2020 09:37 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 12:26 AM

Law enforcing agencies are suspecting BNP-Jamaat leaders of hatching conspiracy to disrupt the upcoming Dhaka city corporation polls using top terrorists and militants, said sources. As the election day of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is coming nearer, the anti-government political parties have allegedly become desperate to gather terrorists with arms and ammunition in and around the capital city from different parts of the country.

Not only convicted BNP acting chairperson Tareque Zia but also family members of the executed top brass war criminals are financing BNP-Jamaat and some rebel candidates for carrying out destructive activities ahead of the election, intelligence sources exclusively told Bangladesh Post on Wednesday.

Getting the information, government high ups have ordered all law enforcing agencies to start a combine operation from Wednesday night to arrest the terrorists in a bid to hold the elections in a very peaceful, free and fair manner. According to the intelligence sources, BNP-Jamaat leaders have also planned to use some pro-Awami League independent and rebel councillor candidates who did not get party nominations for their controversial activities which badly tarnished the image of the ruling party.

Several secret meetings were also held to finalise the conspiracies for engaging in terrorism in the capital. Responding to a question, the top official said, “BNP-Jamaat will try to use pro-Awami League rebel councillor candidates for creating election violence so that government can be blamed for election violence.”

Around four hundreds trained cadres of BNP-Jamaat-Shibir have already arrived in the capital, sources claimed. Most of them took shelters in different Shibir led messes. Some city leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat are also sheltering these armed cadres at their own residences claiming them to be their relatives. However, the top listed and central BNP-Jamaat leaders are applying another tactics. They are not sheltering armed cadres at their own houses. Instead, they have arranged accommodation of armed cadres at the residences of grassroots level leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat to dodge the law enforcers.

Another official said some armed cadres have also taken shelter in the adjacent districts of the capital. However, most of them took shelters in Narayanganj, Savar and Tongi area. Talking to the Bangladesh Post, RAB-4 Commanding Officer (CO) Md Mozammel Haque said, “We shall take serious action, if anybody attempts to disrupt election.”

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Krishna Pada Roy said, “It is our responsibility to foil any move of disrupting election and to ensure public safety. DMP is fully ready to discharge their duty.” Responding to the question of conducting combing operation, the second in command of the DMP said, “As per intelligence report, we shall conduct drives whenever there will be any move of creating anarchy.”

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also said BNP is hiring criminals and gunmen ahead of the Dhaka city polls.
He further said it is a matter of concern. The Election Commission should look into the matter with urgency. There are rumours that armed criminals will obstruct voters at the polling stations.

Mir Sohel Rana, Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) of the Police Headquarters said, “Police has taken adequate preparations to avert any sabotage attempt centring the polls.” Stern action would be taken if any vested quarter try to foil the elections, he added. Responding to another question, Sohel Rana said, there is no specific threat over the upcoming polls.