The central office of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party remained locked throughout Wednesday, following a night-time raid by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
A padlock was seen on the main gate of the party office, although it remains unclear who placed it.
The area has been cordoned with crime scene tape by the CID, and police have been stationed around the premises since Wednesday morning, hours after police raid early Tuesday.
There has been no presence of BNP leaders or activists near the office since morning.
Police reported the arrest of seven BNP activists and seizure of a significant cache including seven firearms, 100 crude bombs, 500 sticks, and several bottles of petrol during the operation.
Responding virtually shortly after the raid, BNP鈥檚 senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused the government of targeting their office unfairly to divert the attention from the ongoing quota reform movement.
He alleged that the raid was orchestrated as part of a larger scheme planned by DMP鈥檚 Detective Branch chief Harun-Or-Rashid.
Rizvi claimed that, prior to the raid at BNP Naya Paltan central office, cocktails were exploded and shots fired near the office, which he said were used as pretexts for the operation.
In contrast, Harun, who led the raid, informed journalists that the operation was in response to an incident of setting fire to a bus near the National Press Club.
He stated that a certain group was attempting to steer the quota reform movement in a different direction, asserting that those responsible would soon be apprehended.
Shortly after the midnight raid, BNP鈥檚 Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, in a virtual conference, accused the government of unjustly raiding the BNP office to divert attention from the quota reform movement.
He claimed that the operation was part of a 鈥榤aster plan鈥� devised by Detective Branch chief Harun-Or-Rashid.
Rizvi alleged that cocktails were detonated in front of the central office and shots were fired before the raid, using this as a pretext to raid the head office of the country鈥檚 most popular political party.
Earlier, following October 28, 2023 police attack on BNP at its Dhaka grand rally demanding resignation of the ruling Awami League, the BNP office was locked for over 100 days.
It was reopened after January 7 general election.