DHAKA, Jan 6, 2024 (BSS)-Detective Branch (DB) Chief Mohammad Harun or Rashid today said that they have arrested eight persons including Dhaka city south unit BNP joint convener Nabi Ullah Nabi and five Jubo Dal activists, for their suspected involvement in setting fire to the Benapole Express train last night, leaving four passengers dead.

Addressing a press briefing at DMP Media Center, he said the DB Lalbagh and Wari Division jointly arrested them including Mansoor Alam, one of the planners and manpower suppliers and Nabiullah, shelter and financier from different areas of the capital.

Harun, also an additional commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that the arrested people are- Dhaka South City BNP Joint Convenor Mohammad Nabi Ullah Nabi, Jubo Dal leader Kazi Mansoor Alam, Jubo Dal workers Md Iqbal Hossain Swapan, Md Russell, Delwar Hakim Biplab, Md Salauddin, Md Kabir and Md Hasan Ahmed.

The DB police arrested them in separate raids from different areas of the capital this morning.

The detectives also recovered Taka 30,000 and two mobile phone sets from them, he added.

The additional commissioner said that two days ago Dhaka South City Jubo Dal convener Khandkar Enam, member secretary Rabiul Islam Nayan, joint convener M A Ghaffer, joint convener Iqbal Hossain Bablu, office secretary Shahjahan Chowdhury and Jubo Dal leader Kazi Mansoor Alam joined a virtual conference.

In the meeting, the leaders said that the ward and thana Jubo Dal leaders and activists will carry out the arson attacks on vehicles, temporary election camps at convenient times during day and night. They will also carry out explosion of cocktails around polling stations and vandalize properties and others.

The Jubo Dal leaders and activists will also distribute anti election leaflets to the people and force the voters from voting activities, the DB chief said.

In the virtual meeting, BNP leasers also mentioned that pictures and video of those arson attacks and vandalism will have to send upper tier.

 “Efforts would be made to discourage people from coming to vote centers,” he added.

The meeting also decided that they will attract attention of the national and international media and instructed the activists to set fire on passenger train compartment from Mymensingh to Dhaka, especially through Narsingdi at convenient places and Kamalapur to Narayanganj route up and down.

Harun also said that BNP leader Mohammad Nabi Ullah Nabi has been arrested as the ring leader and financier of the train fire, while 26 cases were filed against him in different police stations of the capital.
 
Besides, the DB and other law enforcement agencies have been continuing operation to arrest culprits.