DHAKA: Police picked up 25 Jamaat activists from and around their city office at Paltan in the capital Wednesday, as the party faces the worst ordeals in its history, with all its top leaders held for trial on war-crime charges.

The detained Jamaat activists were sent to jail in the afternoon following a court order.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafa Shahriar passed the incarceration orders, rejecting their bail prayers, when the detainees were produced before the court.

Advocate Abdur Razzak and Advocate SM Kamal Uddin Ahmed stood for the defendants during the hearing.

Police cordoned off the Jamaat office and arrested the activists from inside and nearby areas in a massive raid, said to have been launched to forestall their secret gathering.

The activists were shown arrested in a case filed on July 3 on charges of obstructing police duty and vandalizing vehicles during a political demonstration.
Two fresh cases were filed with Paltan thana against the arrested Jamaat men.

“On a tip-off that the Jamaat leaders and activists were gathering there, police raided the area,” said Shahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Paltan Police Station.

Another source said having secret information that Jamaat leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher, who was summoned by court on Tuesday, was staying inside the office, police made the move.

Police personnel were later withdrawn from the area, putting the Jamaat office under strict surveillance.
 
Earlier, police had raided Taher’s house and Jamaat central office to arrest the former lawmaker from the Islamic party.

BDST 1830 HRS AUG 11, 2010