UNB, Dhaka:

After the police raid, the Detective Branch (DB) police marked off the areas in front of the main gate of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office with crime scene tape inscribed with ‘Do not cross.’

The collapsible gate of the BNP office was also found locked from outside as of 12 pm on Wednesday.

A large number of police members have been deployed around the BNP office, and pedestrians are not allowed to walk on the footpaths near it.

A staff member of the BNP office said police took control of the office by driving them away last night, and later conducted a raid. “We haven’t been able to enter since then, as the police have put up security tape in front of the office.”

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At least six people were killed in clashes between the police and ruling party organizations in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, during the general students’ movement demanding reform in the government jobs quota system.

Meanwhile, police raided the BNP office early Wednesday following the explosion of some crude bombs in front of it.

A team of Detectives Branch (DB) of police conducted the raid around 12:30 am and arrested former President of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Rownakul Islam Shraban and six others from there.

Later, talking to reporters, the Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Harun Or Rashid, claimed that they recovered huge crude bombs and bamboo sticks from the washrooms of the BNP office and arrested seven people including Shraban.

On the other hand, at an emergency virtual press conference, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the law enforcers raided the BNP office as part of the government’s masterplan.

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He also termed the police raid at their office a foul play and a dangerous drama by the DB police.

The BNP leader said police entered their empty office at midnight to stage a drama as part of their deep-rooted conspiracy. “They did the same thing earlier in the past. They entered our office like cowards at midnight to mislead people. We strongly condemn and protest it.”

Rizvi claimed that either the members of law enforcers or the ruling party men with police protection hurled crude bombs in front of the BNP office to create a ground for the raid.

He said the law enforcers raided the BNP office to spread fear among the students who are carrying the anti-quota movement across the country.