Police in Dhaka district have arrested 31 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations ahead of the party’s planned lockdown on 13 November, which has been declared illegal by the authorities.

Confirming the arrests on Friday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Anisuzzaman, of Dhaka district police, said the arrestees were picked up from various upazilas during overnight drives that continued until 1:00am on Thursday.

Among those arrested, police recovered a functional revolver from Md Rabbi Sardar, 25, assistant publicity secretary of the Sheikh Russel National Children and Youth Council, Narayanganj Sadar unit. He was detained from South Keraniganj.

According to police, Rabbi had been actively participating in political processions across several areas under the purview of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He was also involved in putting up posters in support of Sheikh Hasina.

Investigators claimed that his mobile phone contained evidence of communication with anti-state groups based both at home and abroad. He allegedly conspired with activists from the Chhatra League and Jubo League across Dhaka, Narayanganj and Munshiganj to incite unrest and plan acts of sabotage.

Police said Rabbi was being intensively interrogated, and further arrests were likely based on information obtained from him.

Among the 31 detainees are several union- and ward-level leaders from the Chhatra League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League, Krishak League, and Awami League. Four were arrested in Savar, three in Ashulia, one in Dhamrai, six in Keraniganj, eight in South Keraniganj, seven in Nawabganj, and two in Dohar, said police.

Some of the arrestees are Tanzirul Rahman, vice president of Savar Upazila Chhatra League; Ruhul Amin, general secretary of Ward-3 Birulia Union Jubo League; Md Obaidul Bhuiyan, information secretary of Dhamsana Union Jubo League; Md Parvez Kabir alias Shakib, deputy secretary for health affairs of Dhaka North Chhatra League; Md Abu Taher Montu, joint convener of Keraniganj Model Thana Sramik League; Md Salam, general secretary of Ward-3 Kalindi Union Awami League; Md Salman, president of Ward-1 Ruhitpur Swechchhasebak League; Md Aminul Islam Jewel,  former president of Shuvadda Union Jubo League; Shafayet Hossain Shipu, general secretary of Churain Union Swechchhasebak League; Md Asif Chakladar, joint general secretary of Kailail Union Awami League; Ramzan Ali, president of Dhaka District Tati League; and Azad Hossain Khan, joint secretary of Dohar Thana Awami League.

SP Anisuzzaman said the arrests were made either while the suspects were taking part in demonstrations or during preparations for political gatherings.

“All of them are active members. Any attempt to create instability or carry out subversive activities will be dealt with sternly,” he said, adding that the crackdown against the network will continue.

Meanwhile, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka district (north), also arrested three more Awami League members – Siddiqur Rahman, Amzad Polan and Jasim Mia – from Savar and Ashulia in separate drives, confirmed Md Jalal Uddin, officer-in-charge of the DB unit.

Police said operations were ongoing to identify and apprehend others allegedly involved in the planned unrest.