Intelligence agencies have listed around 3000 top-ranking local influential leaders of BNP and Jamaat across the country and kept them under strict surveillance, police said. They include presidents and general secretaries of ward, union, upazila and district BNP, Jamaat, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Chattra Shibir.
A high official of police, preferring anonymity, told the Daily Observer on Sunday that the government had ordered the law enforcing agencies to remain alert about the listed leaders.
Police said following a government order each police station across the country has prepared a list of the names of Jamaat, Chhatra Shibir, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders at ward, union, upazila and district levels for taking action against them.
These leaders are capable of carrying out criminal activities and can deteriorate the law and order in the country, added the sources.
The government has launched a mass arrest campaign to foil BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami's joint political movement and create fear among their activists at all levels. The drive will continue periodically, Awami League's policymakers have told an online Bangla newspaper. Some leaders have described it as part of the police's routine work.
The senior leaders also said that the arrested BNP and Jamaat leaders were under surveillance of the law enforcement agencies, and there are specific charges against them. A senior minister said the government had recently been monitoring all BNP-Jamaat activists closely.
Police said, "The arrested Jamaat leaders have specific allegations against them, which is now clear from the police's statements."
"It has been proved again and again that BNP and Jamaat have been conspiring for the last eight-and-a-half years. The government's job is to foil their plots and machinations and provide security to the public," police said. "This arrest drive is part of that effort. This will most certainly continue," he added.
Police said the drive was a part of the government and the law enforcement's continued operations. They believe Jamaat is heavily engaged in conspiracy at the moment, planning to mobilise BNP to that end. The government wants to foil their plan through these arrests.
Sources say the government does not want any unrest in the country until the elections. It is therefore bent on nipping any conspiracy in the bud.
Several leaders of the ruling party said this would be a two-pronged approach, the Awami League will counter the BNP's movement politically while the government would counter them from an administrative position.
They said BNP was planning to mobilise to force the implementation of its proposals given to the Election Commission. They have picked December as the beginning of their movement.
They also want to give a last push against the verdict of the embezzlement case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. They fear that the party may once again push the country towards instability. The government's campaign of fear is the counter-strategy for this.
