Why bus owners enforced the strike is not our concern: Home Minister

Rejecting the allegations that some BNP activists were arrested over BNP’s divisional rally, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said no one was arrested centering the rally, reports UNB.

“Those who were arrested by police had arrest warrants issued against them. Those who were involved in vandalism are being brought to book,” he said.

The minister shared the information while talking to reporters after attending the Annual General Meeting of BSC Women’s Network at Dhaka’s BIAM Foundation.

Replying to a question on whether BNP activists are facing obstacles, the home minister said police did not obstruct anyone and there is no information on any untoward incident centering the BNP rally.

Asked about the bus strike, the minister said, “Why the bus owners have enforced the strike is not our concern. As far as I know, the bus owners have some demands which are the reasons behind the strike, though I‘m not sure about that.”

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the party's divisional rally in Khulna city today, as part of their scheduled programme, defying various obstacles and transport strike.

The rally, organised by Khulna city unit of BNP, formally began on the Sonali Bank premises around 11:30am, two and half hours earlier than the scheduled time, with recitation from the Holy Quran.

Police and other security officials have been deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the city to prevent any untoward incident.

Responding to another question about sending some police personnel on early retirement, the minister said “It’s a regular process and the Police Headquarters has made a list of those against whom there’s specific information, and they are being sent on early retirement.”

Three police officers, of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), have been sent on compulsory retirement.

The Public Security Division under the Home Ministry has already issued three separate notifications in this regard signed by its senior Secretary Md Akhtar Hossain on October 18.