Dhaka, July 17 (V7N) - Following a police raid, the Detective Branch (DB) marked off areas in front of the main gate of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office with crime scene tape reading 'Do not cross.'

As of 12 PM on Wednesday, the collapsible gate of the BNP office remained locked from the outside.

A significant police presence has been deployed around the BNP office, preventing pedestrians from using the nearby footpaths.

A staff member from the BNP office reported that police took control of the office by force last night and conducted a raid. “We haven't been able to enter since then, as the police have put up security tape in front of the office,” the staff member said.

At least six people were killed in clashes between police and ruling party organizations in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, during the general students’ movement demanding reform in the government jobs quota system.

Meanwhile, police raided the BNP office early Wednesday following the explosion of several crude bombs in front of the building.

A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of police conducted the raid around 12:30 AM, arresting former President of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Rownakul Islam Shraban and six others.

Later, speaking to reporters, Harun Or Rashid, Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), claimed that they recovered a large number of crude bombs and bamboo sticks from the BNP office’s washrooms and arrested seven people, including Shraban.

In response, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, during an emergency virtual press conference, accused the government of orchestrating the raid as part of a masterplan. He described the police raid as a foul play and a dangerous drama staged by the DB police.

Rizvi alleged that the police entered their empty office at midnight to stage a drama as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. “They did the same thing in the past. They entered our office like cowards at midnight to mislead people. We strongly condemn and protest this act,” he said.

Rizvi further claimed that either law enforcement officers or ruling party members, under police protection, hurled crude bombs in front of the BNP office to justify the raid. He stated that the raid was intended to spread fear among the students involved in the anti-quota movement across the country.

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