Attack on Ahmadiyya community: 8 more arrested, total arrestees now 173

Eight more people were arrested between Thursday night and early Friday in connection with attacks on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh.

With this, the total number of arrestees has reached 173, our Thakurgaon correspondent reports quoting SM Sirajul Islam Huda, superintendent of police in Panchagarh.

"We are arresting people on the basis of specific information and footage, irrespective of their political background," the SP added.

The incident was planned and a group of trained cadres, equipped with lethal weapons, carried out the attacks on the Ahmadiyya community, the official said.

Members of civil society and police have taken precaution in the town and the villages where people of Ahmadiyya community reside centring today's Friday prayers.

On March 3, two people were killed and at least 30 injured, including seven policemen, in a clash between law enforcers and supporters of Islamist organisations demonstrating against the Ahmadiyya community demanding cancellation of the three-day-long Jalsa Salana, an annual gathering of the members of the Ahmadiyya community.

The agitators set fire to many houses and four shops belonging to the members of the community. They also attacked a local police station, vehicles of law enforcers and a traffic police office.

A total of sixteen cases -- 13 with Panchagarh Police Station and three with Boda Police Station -- have been filed over the attacks, said police.