Bangladeshi authorities have arrested three senior leaders of the main opposition party amid increasing tensions ahead of next year’s elections, an official said on Saturday.
Police detectives arrested Moudud Ahmed, M.K. Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia late on Friday, hours after an alliance led by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party announced its latest nationwide strike. The three-day strike is due to start on Sunday morning to pressure the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to quit and appoint a caretaker to oversee the elections.
Police on Saturday also arrested a prominent businessman who is tied to the main opposition party and another aide of opposition leader Khaleda Zia.
Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said the arrests were carried out on charges of instigating attacks on people and property. But they also highlight the resolve of Hasina’s government to crack down on the opposition and forge ahead with the elections by January.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said the government had no other option but to make the arrests, accusing the leaders of instigating violence in recent weeks.
The leaders were arrested in two separate cases involving police charges of arson, smashing of vehicles and attacking police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Masudur Rahman told reporters.
Later, they were produced before a court in Dhaka, the capital, amid tight security, with police seeking to detain each for 10 days for questioning as part of the investigation.