Dhaka: Police in drives arrested at least 222 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat from seven districts across the country,

The arrests are residents of Gazipur, Chittagong, Naogaon, Laxmipur, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Sunamganj districts.

In Gazipur, police in drives arrested at least 13 BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists including, Hasan Uddin Sarkar, former member of parliament (MP) from Gazipur-2 constituency, on Tuesday night.

Hasan Uddin Sarkar, also a member of BNP central executive committee, was held from his Tongi residence for planning to carry out subversive activities, said Firoz Talukdar, officer-in-charge of Tongi Police Station.

On secret information, police arrested 12 BNP leaders and activists and one Jamaat man from different places in the district, said Sirajul Haque, an official of Gazipur district Special Branch (SB) police.

In Chittagong, Police in drives from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning arrested at least 80 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat from different places across the district and port city, said police.

In Naogaon, The law enforcers in special drives over the district from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning arrested at least 55 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat for alleged planning to carry out subversive activities, said Md Moslem Uddin, inspector of district SB police.

Among arrestees, 34 are BNP men while 21 are Jamaat men, the inspector added.

In Lakshmipur, At least 28 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat in Ramgati, Kamalnagar and Raipur upazilas of the district were arrested from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning for planning to carry out subversive activities, said police.

In Chuadang, Police in special drives from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning arrested at least nine leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat among 39 others accused of several cases from different places, said Mahbubur Rahman, superintendent of district police.

He said several cases were filed with the arrestees in different police stations of the district.

In Meherpur, Some 12 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat along with four hand bombs were detained from three police stations of the district on Tuesday night, police sources said.

In Sunamganj, Police here in special drives held at least 25 leaders and activists of BNP from different areas of the district since Tuesday afternoon.

The BNP leaders were arrested on charge of planning to carry out subversive activities, said Md Shahidullah, officer-incharge of Sadar Model Police Station.

Of them, three each from Chatak, Jamalganj, Doarabazar and Biswambarpur upazilas, two each from Jagannathpur, Dirai and South Sunamganj upazilas while one each from Dharmapasha and Shalla upazilas, said sources at police.