Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam said leaders and activists of the Awami League, and its affiliated organisations are attempting to destabilise the country by staging flash processions.
Nazrul revealed that financial backing for these flash processions and subversive activities is coming from both domestic and foreign sources. He further mentioned that many of the arrested individuals were participating in the protests in exchange for money.
On Wednesday, during attempts to organise flash processions in various areas of the capital, including Tejgaon, Bashundhara, and Uttara, the police arrested 244 people, recovering 14 crude bombs and 7 banners.
Speaking at a press conference in the afternoon, Nazrul confirmed that, based on intelligence reports, DMP officers had been alerted to the possibility of flash processions by Awami League and its affiliates.
As a result, police forces were on high alert. When the procession attempted to move forward, the police arrested the participants.
During initial interrogations, it was revealed that the arrested individuals were paid to participate in these protests, and there is domestic and foreign financial backing behind the activities, the additional commissioner noted.
However, Nazrul did not disclose the identities of the financial backers.
According to DMP records, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police arrested 50 people, the CTTC arrested 27, Tejgaon Division arrested 100, Ramna Division arrested 55, Gulshan Division arrested 5, Mirpur Division arrested 4, and Uttara Division arrested 3. With significant public support, during these arrests, 14 cocktail bombs and 7 banners were recovered.
Nazrul added that the police are raiding residential hotels, flats, and student dormitories as part of their ongoing surveillance.
He encouraged citizens to provide information to the police, assuring that the identities of those giving information would be kept confidential. If such information leads to arrests, he believes it will reduce the number of flash processions.
Nazrul also reiterated that the banned political party’s leaders and activists continue to organize flash processions, and the public has been instrumental in assisting the police in these arrests. He expressed hope that the public would continue to support the police in identifying and arresting Awami League leaders and activists in the future.
When asked about the origin of the bombs, Nazrul stated that the cocktails recovered were not particularly harmful and were usually used to create smoke and noise to instill fear. However, he assured that investigations would be conducted to trace their origin.
He concluded by stating that with the upcoming elections, the banned political party is attempting to disrupt law and order, and police operations against them will continue.
