Shawdesh desk;

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman on Tuesday said that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party office at Naya Paltan was locked by the party itself.

‘If BNP leaders want, they can carry out their activities in the office and there is no bar from our side,’ the DMP chief said.

He said that the police remain deployed in front of the BNP office throughout the year for security. ‘As part of regular duty, police are guarding there. BNP has locked its party office on October 28. However, they can carry out party activities in the office if they want,’ he added.

BNP has alleged that police have kept the party office locked since October 28,

Asked about the allegation, the DMP chief said, ‘BNP themselves have locked the office. They do not come to the office now. Only they can say why they don’t come.’

In response to a question, the commissioner said that the parked vehicles were being burned and police are working to stop these attacks. ‘We have given various instructions at the field level. As a result, we managed to arrest many perpetrators with the help of the public.’

The DMP chief also sought people’s cooperation to stop the violence. He also assured that they would provide financial support to the victims.

Processes are underway to take strict action against the perpetrators of this atrocity, he said.

A total of 19 people have been arrested in connection with the arson violence he said adding that no one would be spared.