Don’t arrest, harass Khulna city political activists till election: High Court

The High Court (HC) today directed law enforcers not to harass or arrest any political activists in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) until the election to the city is held.  

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why the mass arrest of BNP leaders, activists and election campaigners in violation of the appellate division judgement should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan came up with the order and rule following a writ petition was filed yesterday.

BNP leader Md Shahjahan yesterday filed the petition challenging legality of the reported mass arrests of BNP leaders, activists and election campaigners in Khulna ahead of the city polls.

He said in the petition, the law enforcers arrested BNP men causing obstruction to the election campaigning of BNP-nominated candidate Nazrul Islam Monju.

According to the Appllate division directives, police cannot arrest people without specific reasons and police have to show their identity card during the arrest or detention, Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Sazu said.

Source: thedailystar