Police so far arrested 200 people for the attack on police and the vandalism of a prison van in the Supreme Court area on January 30, said DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia yesterday.

“The attackers swooped on police in 'filmy style'. We are arresting the attackers after identifying them in footage run by the media,” said the commissioner in reply to a query regarding the number of arrests.

The DMP boss made the comments while inspecting the security arrangement at Amar Ekushey Bio Mela ground at Suhrawardy Udyan, reports our staff correspondent.

On January 30, a group of BNP men attacked a prison van and snatched two of their fellows from it in the Supreme Court area. The attackers also broke two rifles of policemen guarding the van.

It happened when the motorcade of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was crossing the area.

Three cases have been filed with Ramna and Shahbagh police stations for assaulting police and vandalism of the prison van. Top BNP leaders accused in the cases include Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Shawkat Mahmud, Asaduzzaman Ripon, Zainul Abedin Faruk, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Shyama Obayed. 

The BNP supporters attacked police to create an unstable situation in the country and they were arresting the people involved, said the DMP boss.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 28 BNP leaders and activists, including a municipality mayor, in Narayanganj, Sylhet and Jessore.

Those held in Narayanganj were shown arrested in various old cases filed in connection with “sabotage attempts”, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.

Sarafatullah, inspector of Special Branch of Narayanganj police, said 19 people had been arrested in old cases. One was held at Siddhirganj, 10 at Sonargaon, six at Rupganj and two at Bandar Police Station.

Majharul Islam, inspector of Detective Branch of police in Narayanganj, said BNP leader and Mayor of Kanchan municipality Abul Bashar Badshah was also arrested late Saturday night.

Abdus Sattar, officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj Police Station, said Babul Prodan, president of Siddhirganj ward-9 BNP, was arrested the same night.

Shafiqul Islam, a sub-inspector of Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station, said Masukul Islam Rajib, organising secretary of district BNP, was arrested at his Mission Para home yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, police foiled a procession brought out by Chhatra Dal in Golapganj municipality area of Sylhet yesterday and arrested five men from the spot, reports our correspondent in Sylhet.

The procession was brought out to welcome BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Sylhet visit today.

The arrestees are: Sufian Ahmed Khan, joint organising secretary of the municipality unit BNP, Chhatra Dal activists Jahangir Ahmed, Rayhan Ahmed, Foyez Ahmed and Kamal Ahmed.

Jubel Ahmed, a leader of JCD Golapganj municipality unit, said police foiled the procession charging truncheons.

Witnesses said the JCD activists also attacked police with brick chunks.

Mir Mohammad Abu Naser, inspector (investigation) of Golapganj Police Station, said police arrested them to control the situation.

In Jessore, police arrested Jhenidah unit BNP organising Secretary MA Mazid last night while he was on his way to Dhaka.

Mazid, also the upazila chairman of Harinakundo in Jhenidah, was arrested at Jessore airport. He was accused of being involved in “subversive activities”, Azmal Huda, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali Police Station, told our Jhenidah correspondent.