Dhaka: BNP on Thursday alleged that its more than 2,200 leaders and activists were arrested over the last three days centring Oikyafront’s Tuesday’s Suhrawardy Udyan rally though the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the talks assured it of bringing an end to it, reports the UNB.

‘During the talks with Oikyafront leaders, the Prime Ministers promised that no more new cases would be filed, no new arrest would be made and steps would be taken to release the real political prisoners. But the Prime Minister’s assurance didn’t work,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he also alleged that BNP leaders and activists were arrested over the last three days by conducting a combing operation centring the Oikyafront’s rally. ‘As per the information we’ve received so far over 2,200 leaders and activists of our party were arrested across the country during the period.’

Rizvi said from former MPs to their presidents and secretaries of different districts and metropolitan cities were among the arrestees.

The BNP leader alleged that their party’s over a thousand leaders and activists and normal supporters were arrested on their way back home from the rally, and some were released after extracting money while many were not freed even after taking bribe.

Besides, he said, their thousands of leaders and activists are passing through inhuman life away from their houses due to continuous raids by police.

Rizvi questioned whether the talks with the Oikyafront leaders was a trap of deception as opposition leaders and activists are being arrested widely after the Prime Minister’s commitment of not doing so.

He also presented a list of their party’s arrested leaders and activists across the country, including the capital.

The BNP leader strongly protested and condemned the arrest and demanded their immediate release.

Jatiya Oikyafront, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, staged a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday to push for its seven-point demand aiming to hold a fair and participatory neutral election.