The detective branch of police yesterday arrested a Chhatra Dal cadre who was photographed wielding firearms during the clash between JCD factions at Dhaka University.
Sayed Nurul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Ramana zone, said the arrestee, Saiduzzaman Pasha, was under police interrogation at DB office.
On information about his hideout in the area, Assistant Commissioner of DB Mohammad Shahidullah arrested Pasha around 2:00pm, another DMP official said.
The firearm that Pasha was carrying during the clash could not be recovered yet, the official added.
The DB officials, however, remained tight-lipped regarding the arrest.
Pasha was one of the three men who were seen with firearms in newspaper photos and TV footages of the clash on January 18 between the two factions of JCD, the student wing of BNP. They were identified as former JCD leaders.
Pasha, in jeans and a black muffler in newspaper photos and TV footages, is a third-year student of political science department at Dhaka College.
After BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was arrested during the caretaker government's rule, Pasha put up posters at Dhaka College and surrounding area under the banner of "Khaleda Zia Mukti Parishad", of which he was the president.
Pasha is also accused in several cases filed with the city's New Market, Jatrabari and Demra police stations on charges of extortion and other criminal acts.
Following the clash, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Nasim filed a case with Shahbag Police Station accusing eight persons including Pasha and 300 others.
Pasha was the first arrestee among the accused.