Five AL activists arrested for staging procession in Dhaka

Police arrested five Awami League activists for staging a procession in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Thursday.

According to police, a group of 15-20 men from the party, whose activities are banned, suddenly staged a procession around 9am in Agargaon area to mark Independence Day.

The procession began near the BTRC building and proceeded toward the IDB Bhaban.

Acting on the information, on-duty police pursued the group, causing them to disperse and arresting five people at the scene around 9:30am.

The arrestees were identified as Md Hasan Ali, 43, Jisan Ahmed, 39, Md Raisul Islam Manik, Md Faruk Islam, 36, and Ashik Mohammad, 24.

Among them, Hasan Ali works for the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, confirmed the incident, saying police acted immediately after receiving information about the procession.

 “A case has been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the arrestees have been produced in court following the necessary procedures,” he added.

In a separate incident, a woman was detained around 11:30am the same day at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar while attempting to pay tribute, chanting slogans, and carrying a leaflet linked to the Awami League.

According to police, the woman, identified as Tahmina Akter, had come to the memorial with her three children.

She told journalists that she is originally from Cumilla and currently resides in the capital’s Lalbagh.

Saidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dhaka District (North) Detective Branch, said she had been taken into custody and legal action was underway.

 He also confirmed that the children accompanying her were not taken into custody.