DHAKA: As several hundred people were rounded up during Sunday’s hartal, State Minister for Home Affairs Advocate Shmasul Haque Tuku Sunday said the law enforcers could make no arrest without specific reasons or allegations.

Referring to the arrest of some top BNP leaders, including Mirza Abbas and Professor Abdul Mannan, he said, “Police took the steps to save property from vandalisim and the innocent passersby from the pickets.”

He was talking to journalists at his Secretariate Office, after Shahjahanpur rocked by
rowdy protests against Mirza’s arrest.

“Some 10/12 vehicles were damaged and set ablaze on Saturday--was it an example of peaceful hartal? The nation did not expect this,” he said.

The law enforcers arrested those who forced people to keep their shops closed, obstructede vehicular movement or harassed innocent pedestrians, the Awami League leader said, adding that they might have been detained for their involvement in subersive acts.  

Replying to an allegation made by the BNP Secretary-General that his party leaders and activists were arrested like the Ershad regime, the state minister questioned, “Did they follow the democratic process during hartal in their regime? They should feel ashamed if they watch the video footages of hartal during their times. By comparisn, Awami League is doing nothing to them.”  

Terming Sunday’s hartal “illogical”, Tuku said they (BNP) called hartal demanding gas and power supply. “But, they themselves created the crisis,” he added.

He also commented that the Opposition BNP called the hartal for hindering country’s development programmes and trial of the war criminals.

Denying the allegation of police action on BNP MP Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie during hartal hours, Tuku said, “No police members did hit Annie. He slowly sat on the ground. He might be sick.”

Calling upon the boycotting Opposition to join Parliament, the state minister requsted them to place their demands in the House.     

BDST 2003, June 2010
UB/LY/MUA