National Citizen Party leader Nasiruddin Patwary should be questioned over his recent remarks about crude bomb blasts in different parts of the country, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police official said on Friday.
‘Certainly, I think he should be questioned. Otherwise, why did he make such a statement?’ joint commissioner (crime prevention-South) Tofayel Ahmed Mia told reporters at a press conference at the DMP media centre on Minto Road in the afternoon.
A journalist asked the official about Patwary’s recent comment that there would be no more cocktail explosions in Dhaka if the government met three demands of the National Citizen Party.
‘Then he himself should be asked why he made such a statement. Certainly, I think he should be questioned. Otherwise, why did he say this?’ Tofayel said.
Asked whether police would question Patwary, the joint commissioner said, ‘I cannot say that. Senior officials will be able to say.’
Patwary made the comment on Monday night after an NCP procession protesting the rise in fuel prices. He said the government would have to meet three demands for there to be no more cocktail explosions in Dhaka.
Tofayel made the remarks while briefing reporters about the arrest of a man and the recovery of explosives, materials used to make cocktails and 9,000 paper masks from South Keraniganj.
Police arrested Jahid Hasan Emon, 30, from Bagashur area under South Keraniganj police station early Friday in connection with an investigation into a cocktail blast in front of Jatrabari police station on September 19.
According to a police press release, police recovered 1.5kg of caustic soda, 1.6kg of sulphur, 5kg of marbles, 2kg of one-inch barbed wire, 20 rolls of red tape, 11 rolls of black tape, 9,000 paper masks, 30 packets of elastic, and a blender and jar allegedly used to prepare materials for cocktails.
The items were recovered based on information provided by Emon following his arrest, the release said.
Tofayel said Emon had admitted that the masks were sent to him through an unidentified van driver via a leader in Lalbagh and were stored at his residence for distribution among leaders and activists.
Police said the masks had been prepared with an ‘ill intention’.
Emon has two separate cases against him at Shahbagh and Lalbagh police stations, according to the press release.
Legal proceedings against him were under way, police said.
