Some 11 cases were filed and 95 people were arrested as of Wednesday after 10 government offices including Tajhat Metropolitan police station and two police outposts were looted and burnt down in Rangpur during the nationwide unrest that began over the quota reform protest.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman said the police have identified 500 people who directly participated in the riot, including the perpetrators, helpers, and financial providers, by examining video and audio obtained from various sources, including CCTV footage.
Among the arrestees, many directly participated in the riots, including setting fires.
Two separate cases were filed at Rangpur metropolitan’s Kotwali police station on Wednesday morning in connection with the riots at the metropolitan Awami League and district Awami League offices.
Abul Kashem, the joint convener of the metropolitan Awami League, filed the case on behalf of the metropolitan Awami League, and former office secretary Zeenat Hussain Lablu, a member of the convening committee of the district Awami League, filed the case on behalf of the district Awami League.
Abul Kashem said: “A case has been filed against 70 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat. There is nothing left in our metropolitan Awami League office, including chairs, tables, furniture, computers, IPS, and televisions. All the belongings of our office were vandalized, looted, and set on fire.”
“We hope all involved will be arrested and brought to justice,” he added.
Zeenat Hussain Lablu added that a case had been filed against 60 people, along with 500 unnamed individuals.
Additionally, three separate cases have been filed by the Family Planning Office, Department of Fisheries, and co-operative market.
Rangpur metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman said that organized miscreants from Jamaat and BNP attacked at least 10 government offices in the last few days, looted and set ablaze the Nawabagh police outpost, and attempted to kill the police by burning them alive. The government has suffered massive damage to private assets. By collecting various audio and videos of these atrocities, it has been possible to identify more than 500 miscreants who were directly involved in sabotage.
He told the police commissioner that among the identified criminals of Jamaat Shibir and BNP, 95 people have been arrested among them who have helped financially and in other ways and have directly participated in the rampage. Already, 11 cases have been filed in Kotwali and Tajhat police stations in these incidents. Several other complaints have been received and more cases will be filed.
He said the army is deployed in the city. Police, BGB and other forces have made tight security arrangements across the city.
