Police have arrested two leaders of the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League and Swechchhasebak League in Naogaon’s Manda upazila over a loudspeaker announcement claiming that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would return to Bangladesh in December.
The arrestees are Shahidul Islam Shahid, 43, president of the Chhatra League’s Kashopara Union unit, and Abdul Jalil Sarkar, 50, president of the Manda Sadar Union unit Swechchhasebak League.
Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarikul Islam confirmed the arrests on Friday afternoon.
Police also seized the battery-run auto-rickshaw used to broadcast the announcement.
According to the SP, a video showing a youth making the announcement through a loudspeaker mounted on a moving auto-rickshaw came to the attention of district police on Thursday night. Police launched an investigation and arrested the two men later that night.
Tarikul Islam alleged that the announcement was an attempt to create instability in the country. Shahidul Islam Shahid has acknowledged to police that he knew about the matter, he added.
The SP said police were continuing their drive to identify and arrest others allegedly involved in the incident.
Video goes viral on social media
The video, which circulated on social media on Thursday, showed a youth using a loudspeaker on a moving battery-run auto-rickshaw in Kalikapur Union of Manda upazila.
The announcement began with greetings to residents of Manda and people from other religious and ethnic communities. It then claimed that Awami League President and five-time former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would return to Bangladesh in December.
The youth urged people, regardless of their political affiliations, to welcome her and ended the announcement with the slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu”.
According to local sources, the announcement also said the exact date of Hasina’s return would be announced later and urged party leaders and activists to remain united and prepared.
The campaign referred to a group of supporters of former student and youth leader Mohammad Aslam Tipu. The video was also circulated through a Facebook page or account named “Aslam Tipu Supporters’ Group”.
The incident sparked discussion among local residents, following which police launched an operation to identify those involved.
