Around 300 detained from Jasad office in Gulistan: DMP

Highlights:

• Police detained around 280 people from Jasad's Gulistan office
• Police suspected some detainees were banned Awami League activists
• Jubo Dal activists surrounded the office and alerted police
• Journalist leader Abu Jafar Surjo was among those detained
• Jasad denied Awami League links, calling it a scheduled meeting
• Jasad says police were informed about the meeting beforehand

Police detained around 280-300 people, including journalists, from the central office of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) in Gulistan this evening (26 September), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Motijheel Division Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Harun Or Rashid said.

The detainees were taken to Paltan Police Station as police suspected that some of them were leaders and activists of the Awami League, whose activities have been banned, he said.

Speaking to journalists at the scene in the evening, Harun Or Rashid said police had received information that members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations had gathered at the Jasad office, allegedly with plans to carry out sabotage or for another unlawful purpose.

"Police took initial action after receiving this information. Local students and members of the public assisted the police," he said.

He said police were now verifying why the group had gathered and what they had done.

"We are verifying why they actually gathered here and what they did. We have information that they chanted 'Joy Bangla'. After verifying whether they were involved in any activities and why they had gathered, further legal action will be taken," he said.

Earlier, members of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal gathered outside the Jasad office around 2:30pm, alleging that activities of the banned Awami League were taking place inside.

Jubo Dal activists reportedly surrounded the office and informed police, prompting Paltan police to begin the operation around 2:30pm.

Dhaka South City Jubo Dal Member Secretary Rabiul Islam Nayan was seen chanting slogans outside the office.

"Awami League slogans are being chanted at the Jasad office. Can this still be called a Jasad office? This is a banned Awami League office. Wherever we see Awami League slogans, Jubo Dal will go there," he told journalists.

Journalist leader Abu Jafar Surjo was among those detained from the Jasad office.

In a Facebook post accompanied by a photograph of himself in handcuffs, Surjo said police had taken him and several others away in handcuffs while he was performing his professional duties at a Jasad representative meeting.

Asked about the matter, Harun Or Rashid said police would verify whether any of the detainees were journalists before deciding on further action.

Police had conducted the raid from the afternoon into the evening after receiving information that leaders and activists of the Awami League were holding a secret meeting at the Jasad office.

However, Jasad leaders denied that the gathering was linked to the Awami League, saying it was a pre-scheduled central representatives' meeting.

The party had also formally informed police about the programme two days before the meeting, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Business Standard.

The letter, signed by Jasad Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain and dated 24 September, was addressed to the deputy commissioner of DMP's Motijheel division. It requested permission to use microphones and necessary security arrangements for the meeting.

According to the letter, Jasad sought permission to hold the representatives' meeting from 9am to 8pm on Saturday (26 September) at Colonel Taher Auditorium at the party's central office at 35-36 Bangabandhu Avenue, Gulistan.

The letter said Jasad Central Executive President and freedom fighter Advocate Rabiul Alam would preside over the meeting, which would be attended by leaders of the party's central, district and upazila committees.

A receiving signature from the office of the Motijheel deputy commissioner is also visible on the copy of the letter obtained by TBS.

Jasad Joint General Secretary Abdullah Hil Kaiyum said the party had informed the DMP commissioner, the Motijheel division deputy commissioner and the Paltan police station officer-in-charge about the meeting in advance.

"Jasad is not a banned party and there is no restriction on its activities. Everyone who attended the central representatives' meeting was a known Jasad leader or member. There was no opportunity for anyone from the Awami League or any other party to enter the meeting," he said.

He said around 500 Jasad leaders from different levels, including around 30 women, had attended the meeting.

Jasad Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain said the representatives' meeting began at around 10:30am.

He alleged that BNP activists initially arrived at the office and assaulted some Jasad members before police later began detaining people.