DHAKA: Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna from the city’s Banani area early Tuesday.
His wife Meher Nigar confirmed the matter to banglanews saying a plainclothes team of DB picked up him from his niece’s house on Road No. 17-A of Block E in Bannai around 3:30am.
The detention came two days after audio clips of a long telephone conversation between Manna and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who is currently residing in the USA, was leaked on Sunday.
During the conversation, Manna has been heard paying heed to pave the way for military intervention in Bangladesh and asking for ‘a few deaths’ at Dhaka University to shake the government.
Since the detention, Manna’s whereabouts remains unknown.
Banani Thana duty-officer Sub-Inspector Jahangir Alam told banglanews that Manna’s wife informed police that several people identified themselves as DB picked her husband.
The police have been informed nothing yet, added the officer.
Demand of arresting Manna for hatching anti-government conspiracy rose from the ruling party men including that of several cabinet members following the phone conversation leakage.
During the conversation, Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna advised BNP leader Sadique Hossain to tell his party men to go in for a massive showdown at Dhaka University.
'Tell your people' to join Nagarik Oikya programmes. It will strengthen the democratic movement at the end of the day," Manna was heard telling Khoka.
Manna said, “If possible take over a few halls in a huge head-on confrontation. Maybe a few will die on both sides but if a few halls can be taken over, it will shake up the government.”
In another audio conversation with an untraced person Manna was expressing his desire to sit with military officers.
The person at the other end of the phone was saying, that he was associated with the Jan 11, 2007 military takeover.
They were discussing plans to meet two top army officers.
In the talk with Khoka Manna also heard to say, “We are dominating the talk shows. We have put the government on the defensive.”
”We have successfully established that the root of the current crisis is Jan 5 polls.”
Manna also sounds optimistic about the initiatives by US, EU and UN, “only if the Indians can be made to change their line,” he was saying.
Manna also mentioned about Prime Minister Sk Hasina’s upset in the conversation. He was heard to say, “I am under huge surveillance. The prime minister is upset with me, so I have been asked by people to be really careful.”
BDST: 0652 HRS, FEB 24, 2015
