Dhaka: BNP on Saturday submitted a list of 21 leaders to the Election Commission, including a nomination seeker, who have been arrested by law enforcement agencies since November 22 ‘defying the EC’s directives’.

BNP leader Salauddin Khan submitted the list attached with a letter signed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to the office of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda at Nirbachan Bhaban, reports the UNB.

‘So far, 21 BNP leaders, including a nomination seeker, have been arrested since November 22,’ Fakhrul claimed in the letter.

The BNP leader requested the Election Commission to issue emergency directives to the law enforcement agencies to refrain from arresting BNP leaders andactivists in ‘false’ cases alongside taking measures for the release of those arrested.

Fakhrul alleged that the Election Commission played a silent role.

Besides, BNP submitted a list of two cases filed with Bhairab police station against its leaders and activists on November 19 and 23. The total numbers of named and unnamed accused in the two cases are 150 and 450 ones respectively.

In the letter, Fakhrul said they earlier submitted the lists of cases with arrestees on November 15, 17 and 20.

Over recovering the dead body of its nomination seeker Abu Bakar from Buriganga, he said the EC earlier announced that they were giving directives to the law enforcement agencies to take legal steps in this regard.

‘The role of the Election Commission is also questionable in this regard. The EC can’t avoid the responsibility in this matter,’ the BNP Secretary General said.

According to the BNP’s list, BNP nomination seeker from Cumilla-4 constituency MA Awal Khan was arrested and kept him in the jail so that he cannot submit the nomination paper.

The other 20 arrestees are Ramna thana Chhatra Dal leader Jewel Rana (missing traceless after being arrested), Rupnagar Thana BNP leader Abul Kashem, Rupnagar thana Jub Dal leaders Fakhrul Islam Shipu, Jahangir Biswas, Shahjahan Shikder and Mintu Mia, Rupnagar Swecchasebok leader Alauddin, Mohammadpur thana BNP leaders Abdur Rahman and Masum, Sutrapur thana BNP leader Abdus Sattar, Kawser Ahmmed, Mujibur Rahman, Sutrapur Sramik Dal leader Delwar Hossain, ward-level leader in Khilkhet thana Abdul Haque Bhuiyan, Bhairab (Kishoreganj) BNP leaders Alamgir member and Abdul Khaleque, and Bhairab Jubo Dal leader Rubel Mia.

The other arrestees are Dr Jamal, Zakaria Faruk and Kawser Mia—all grassroots leaders of Bhairab.

Later, EC Secretary Helal Uddin told reporters that the list submitted by BNP will be placed in the Commission’s meeting to be held on Sunday and the EC will take the decision.