BNP Leader Mokbul Arrested over New Market Clashes

An advocate by training, Mokbul was handed over to the custody of the police station at 9:45 pm on Friday after initial questioning, said SM Qayyum, chief of the station.

The suspect will be brought to court on Saturday to request that he remain in police custody, the OC said.

Law enforcers have yet to decide how long they want to keep him in custody, he said.

Mokbul was arrested at his home in Dhanmondi on Friday, said AKM Hafiz Akhtar, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

A case has been started against him, he said.

Mokbul is named as the prime suspect in a case filed at New Market Police Station by Inspector Yamin Kabir. The charges include obstructing government activity, attacking police, throwing brickbats, vandalism and injuring others.

Twenty-three other suspects are named in the case alongside 200-300 unnamed New Market traders and workers and 600-700 Dhaka College students.

According to city corporation records, Mokbul is registered as the owner of the stores ‘Welcome’ and ‘Capital Fast Food’ – whose employees were involved in sparking the violence on Monday night.

However, Mokbul does not run either of the stores himself and instead rents them out.

Around midnight on Monday, the feud between the two stores entangled a number of Dhaka College students and resulted in a clash.

The violence continued throughout Tuesday, injuring several dozen and resulted in the deaths of two people.