Dhaka //

Police have detained at least 40 individuals—suspected to be leaders and activists of the Awami League, a party whose activities are currently banned—from the headquarters of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in the capital’s Gulistan area. The operation was ongoing as of 4:45 PM this Saturday.

The detainees have been taken to Paltan Police Station. According to the police, the individuals were holding a secret meeting inside the JSD office. Verification regarding the detainees is currently underway.

Earlier this afternoon, upon receiving information that over 400 Awami League leaders and activists were holding a secret meeting at the JSD office, members of Jubo Dal gathered there, detained the group, and alerted the police. Hundreds of Jubo Dal activists remained stationed outside the premises.

Rabiul Islam Nayan, Member Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal, told reporters, “Slogans supporting the Awami League are being chanted here. How, then, can we call this a JSD office? This is effectively an office for the Awami League, a party whose activities are banned. Wherever we see Awami League slogans, Jubo Dal will go. Between 400 and 500 people are trapped inside this office. Thousands of Jubo Dal members are outside; I have kept them calm. I have asked the administration to take away the people trapped inside.”

Sajjad Hossain, the Office Secretary of JSD, stated that they had organized the meeting with prior police permission.

A responsible police official stated, “Around 3:00 PM, a meeting was observed taking place inside the JSD office on the third floor.”

Akhtar Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told the media at 4:45 PM, “Police have taken 40 individuals to Paltan Police Station after receiving reports of ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans being chanted in front of that office. The operation is still ongoing.”

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