54 leaders, activists of Munshiganj BNP arrested from Banani club

Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 54 leaders and activists of BNP's Munshiganj unit from Banani Club early today.

BNP said the leaders and activists went there to attend a dinner while police claimed they were planning to hold an anti-government activity.

A team of DB Gulshan carried out a raid at the club and took them to the DB office on Minto Road, said Mustafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.

"They were planning anti-state activities while at the club. A case was filed against 56 persons including the 54 arrestees under the Anti-Terrorism Act," he said.

The arrestees include Momin Ali, former Sreenagar upazila chairman and BNP's MP candidate, and Delwar Hossain, general secretary of BNP's Sreenagar upazila unit.

Kamruzzaman Ratan, member secretary of Munshiganj unit BNP, said Momin Ali hosted the dinner as he was going to perform Umrah. But police arrested them without any reason.