AL leader arrested over attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade

Police have arrested a local Awami League leader named Saimon in connection with the attack and vandalism of the motorcade of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mobarak Hossain confirmed the arrest on Monday night, saying that Saimon was arrested from the Karwan Bazar area on Monday evening. The Awami League leader from the Tejgaon area will be produced before the court on Tuesday in connection with a case filed over the attack and attempted murder involving the BNP Chairperson’s motorcade.

Earlier, on April 6, police arrested Sabbir Hossain, General Secretary of the Motijheel Thana unit of the Awami League, in the same case.

The incident occurred in April 2015 during the election campaign for the Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral race. At the time, Khaleda Zia was campaigning for BNP-endorsed candidate Tabith Awal when activists of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League allegedly attacked her motorcade in Karwan Bazar.

Nearly a decade later, on August 22, 2024, a case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with the incident.