Police have detained at least 70 people in Gazipur in connection with an attack on the car of Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator for the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) said most of the detainees are members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations.
According to the police, the attack took place on Sunday evening in the Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur when Hasnat’s car was stuck in traffic.
A group of assailants riding four to five motorcycles suddenly attacked the vehicle, smashing its windscreen and windows, causing injuries to Hasnat’s hand from broken glass.
Following the incident, his motorcade sought refuge inside the campus of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), and he was later safely escorted to Dhaka.
GMP Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan told reporters that followers of the former government were behind the attack. He alleged that their intention was to incite political unrest.
Police reported that on Sunday night, they conducted raids in several areas, arresting 54 people, including Nizam Uddin, a Jubo League leader of Ward 13 in Gazipur, and Masum Ahmed, president of the Sheikh Russell Children and Adolescents Council under the Kashimpur police station.
However, as of Monday morning, no official complaints or cases had been filed, according to police sources.
In response to the incident, the NCP organised protest rallies on Sunday night at Dhaka University and the Bangla Motor intersection.