Dhaka, July 17 (V7N) - Former President of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Rownakul Islam Shraban and six others were arrested early Wednesday from the BNP’s Nayapaltan Central Office, along with several crude bombs, according to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The arrests followed a raid on the Nayapaltan BNP office, conducted hours after violent clashes erupted between quota reformists, police, and Chhatra League activists across the country on Tuesday, resulting in at least six deaths and numerous injuries.

A DB team, led by DMP’s Additional Commissioner and DB Chief Md Harun-Or-Rashid, carried out the midnight operation.

At a subsequent media briefing, the DB chief revealed that several crude bombs and bamboo sticks were recovered from the washrooms of the BNP office. Seven individuals, including Shraban, were arrested.

“We (DB) had been monitoring the situation for the past few days. As a continuation of this surveillance, the raid was conducted. We have identified those who have been spreading rumors, financing, and engaging in illicit political activities. They will all be apprehended,” Harun-Or-Rashid stated.

The DB chief alleged that a political party has been manipulating students for political purposes and the anti-quota movement. He mentioned that the DB is actively working to arrest individuals involved in various areas, but their identities cannot be disclosed at this time.

Conversely, during an emergency virtual press conference, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused the law enforcers of raiding the BNP office as part of the government's masterplan. He described the police raid as a "foul play" and a "dangerous drama" orchestrated by the DB police.

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