Police and local residents detained 14 leaders and activists of the banned student organisation Chhatra League in separate incidents in Chattogram and Savar on Friday while they were allegedly preparing for or taking part in flash procession.
Five were arrested in Chattogram’s Probortok area, while nine others were detained by locals during a procession in Savar and later handed over to police.
Five arrested in Chattogram
Police arrested five alleged Chhatra League activists from Probortok on Friday afternoon after receiving information that members of the banned organisation were preparing for a procession.
The arrested were identified as Miraj, Mamun, Apu Das, Jamshed and Zahid Hasan.
Another person was detained and is being questioned. Police said he would also be arrested if his involvement with the banned organisation is established.
Panchlaish Police Station OC Zahidul Islam told TIMES of Bangladesh that police conducted the raid after receiving information that Chhatra League activists were preparing for a procession in the area.
Six people were detained during the operation, he said.
“Five admitted during questioning that they were involved in activities of the banned Chhatra League and were subsequently arrested. The other person is still being questioned,” the OC said.
Police said legal proceedings against the five arrested individuals were under way.
Nine detained in Savar
In a separate incident, local residents detained nine alleged Chhatra League activists during a flash procession in Savar’s Kalma area on Friday evening and handed them over to police.
Police and local residents said around 20-30 young men took part in the procession along the busy Kalma Dhal road in Savar Sadar Union, carrying locally made weapons.
The marchers allegedly demanded the withdrawal of cases against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the release of party leaders and activists.
Locals chased the procession members and detained nine of them. Police were later informed, and Sub-Inspectors Ismail and Farhad took the detainees to Savar Police Station.
The detainees were identified as Mahfuz and Yasin of Khejur Bagan, Nazmul Bepari of Tongabari, Mahim Khan of Shooting Bari, Yasin, Asif and Shanto of Thakurtpara, and Rabbi and Naim of Ashulia Bazar Para.
Savar Model Police Station OC Saiful Alam said legal action was being taken against those detained.
“As some of them are underage, their birth registration documents are being checked and their guardians have been called,” he said.
