Police stay alert to possible violence ahead of Feb 8 verdict

Top-ranking leaders of BNP are under constant close surveillance ahead of the verdict in the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's graft case on February 08.  Police Headquarters are not allowing BNP men to appear at public gatherings.
BNP, on the other hand, has taken the issue very seriously because if Khaleda Zia is convicted she will be disqualified for the next general election.
A high official of police, preferring anonymity, told The Daily Observer that police had ordered the law enforcement agencies to stay alert so that influential leaders of BNP are not able to create any chaos ahead of the verdict.
Officially, BNP-led-alliance partners are not going to participate in the public gathering on February 08.   But police suspected that Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists in the disguise of BNP men will join it.
After his first press meet at the Police Headquarters newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jabed Patwary said police would take stern action to save public property if anyone tried to create any unrest.
Police have so far arrested 300 leaders and activists of BNP from Dhaka over the past few days after a group of BNP activists allegedly broke open a prison van and snatched away two of their fellows from in front of the High Court Mazar gate on Tuesday.  
The arrestees were shown arrested in three cases filed with the Ramna and Shahbag police stations.
Police said following the order of the government each police station across the country has prepared a list of names of 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 orders in the county, added the sources.
Police are searching every house. BNP claimed police were conducting drives at every house to arrest their leaders and activists.
BNP leaders and activists are on the run following a raid after Tuesday's attack on policemen in the High Court area.
Of the top leader, police have already arrested Standing Committee Member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Azizul Bari Helal.
Party leaders described the police action against the rank and file of BNP as the government's barometer to gauge the possible intensity of the protest that could erupt after the February 8 court verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft Case in which Khaleda Zia's Zia is one of the main accused.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case on July 3, 2008 with the Ramna Police Station during the army-backed caretaker government accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others of misappropriating over Tk2.1cr that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphanage.
The Special Court-5 in Dhaka fixed February 8 to deliver the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft Case against Khaleda and five other people.