Police detained scores of people in a sweeping raid on the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) headquarters in Dhaka’s Gulistan on Saturday, alleging that leaders and activists of the Awami League -- whose political activities remain banned -- had gathered there for a “secret meeting”, a claim JaSaD rejected.
The operation unfolded after BNP and Jubo Dal activists surrounded and entered the JaSaD office, alleging that Awami League members were holding a clandestine gathering there.
Police later moved into the building and began taking people away, turning what JaSaD said was a scheduled representatives’ meeting into a major law-enforcement operation in the heart of the capital.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials initially put the number detained at more than 50, although Jubo Dal leaders claimed that at least 95 had been taken away as the operation continued.
Police said the identities and alleged involvement of those detained were still being verified.
The incident comes amid intensified law-enforcement action against Awami League leaders and activists following a series of flash processions and crude bomb explosions in Dhaka.
Earlier this month, police arrested 179 people in connection with an Awami League procession in Gulshan where crude bombs were detonated.
Paltan Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arifur Islam said those taken to the station on Saturday were being interrogated and vetted based on specific intelligence.
“Legal proceedings will be initiated following this verification process,” he said.
DMP Deputy Commissioner for Media and Public Relations Md Akter Hossain said police had received information that “Joy Bangla” slogans were chanted outside the JaSaD headquarters and that numerous outsiders had gathered inside.
Police suspected a meeting was taking place and launched a joint operation involving the Crime Division and Detective Branch, he said.
But JaSaD presented a sharply different account.
JaSaD Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain said around 350 party activists from across the country had gathered for a scheduled meeting when BNP and Jubo Dal activists entered the premises around 2:30pm.
“That is a lie; our activist meeting was underway,” he said in response to claims that Awami League members had assembled there.
“Why would Awami League leaders and activists come here? The real motive is simply to find a pretext to attack us.”
JaSaD alleged that its leaders and activists were initially confined inside the building before police arrived, removed BNP and affiliated organisation members and began detaining people from the meeting.
Jubo Dal leaders, however, claimed they had received information that hundreds of Awami League activists were gathering at the office and alerted police.
Moazzem Hossain Tapan, member secretary of Shahbagh Thana Jubo Dal, alleged that 500-600 people from several districts had assembled for a “secret meeting” intended to plan destabilising activities.
No independent evidence substantiating that allegation was immediately presented.
Among those detained was journalist Abu Jafar Surya, a former president of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists.
A post on his Facebook profile said he had been covering the JaSaD meeting professionally when police handcuffed and detained him.
Police said the identities of those taken into custody had yet to be fully confirmed and decisions on arrests or other legal action would be made after questioning and verification.
