Police arrested four people on Tuesday after activists of the activists of the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, gathered in the capital’s Mohakhali area to stage a flash procession.
The arrested individuals are Aslam Mia, 25, Ashikul Islam, 24, Mahfuzur Rahman Siam, 19, and Md Monir Hossain, 48.
The incident took place around 1:30pm near Muktijoddha Goli and in front of the CM Pump, adjacent to the Institute of Public Health after 30 to 40 leaders and activists of the Dhaka North unit of the Awami League gathered in the area, said Mehedi Hasan, inspector (investigation) of Banani Police Station.
On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and arrested four people with the help of local residents, he said.
“We have arrested four people. We initially suspect they were trying to become active around 15 August,” Mehedi Hasan told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He also alleged that some members of the group set off crude bombs to create panic with the intention of carrying out sabotage before fleeing the scene. Police recovered remnants of exploded cocktails from the spot.
Police said one of the four arrested was beaten by local residents before being handed over to officers at the Mohakhali Terminal police outpost.
According to police, Aslam Mia and Ashikul Islam are activists of the Chhatra League’s Government Bangla College unit and fourth-year BBA students at the college.
Police are verifying the identities and backgrounds of the other two detainees and checking whether any of the four have previous criminal cases.
A case is being prepared at Banani Police Station against the arrested individuals, police said.
