Khulna, April 1 -- Law enforcement agencies on Friday night arrested 16 leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies from different areas of the city ahead of the party's sit-in programme on Saturday, local leaders said.

Khulna city unit convening committee's member Masud Khan Badal, No. 4 ward BNP Joint Convener Arman Sheikh, No. 11 ward Convener Nurul Huq, No. 15 ward Sewchhasebak Dal Convener Rubel Khandaker, City College Chattra Dal Joint Convener Rakbi Hossain and Jubo Dal leader Nur Islam were among the arrestees, a media release signed by city unit BNP Convener Advocate Shafiqul Alam Mona said on Saturday morning.

BNP leaders said the government has turned the country into a police state through arresting the leaders...