Schoolboy arrested, sent to jail in Cumilla for alleged participation in Chhatra League procession

An eighth-grade student has been arrested in Cumilla's Nangalkot upazila on allegations of taking part in a Chhatra League flash procession.

Police arrested the boy, Imran Hossain, a student of Dhalua Multipurpose High School, on Monday night (17 November) and produced him before a court the following day, which ordered that he be sent to jail.

According to AK Fazlul Haque, officer-in-charge of Nangalkot Police Station, several individuals were arrested on the night of the incident. From their statements, police confirmed Imran's identity and alleged involvement.

"The detainees identified Imran as an active Chhatra League activist who participated in the flash procession. If investigations do not substantiate the allegations, Imran will be dropped from the charge sheet," added the OC.

According to police, Sub-Inspector (SI) Alamgir Hossain filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act on Tuesday (18 November), naming 25 individuals and accusing an additional 50-60 unidentified people. Imran was listed as the sixth accused. He was later sent to jail through Cumilla Children's Court-1.

The FIR states that around 50-60 active members of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, Awami League, and affiliated organisations gathered near Montoli Bridge on the Chilpara-Urkuti road in Dhalua union to stage a torch and flash procession, chanting anti-government slogans, in protest of a verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal.

Police arrested the first accused at the scene, and based on his interrogation, identified others, including Imran, according to police.

Imran's father, Ishaq Mia, claimed his son was taken from their home at around 3am on Monday. He said he went to the police station with his son's exam admit card, but the boy was shown arrested in the terrorism-related case the next day.

"Someone conspired to have my son arrested," he said. "My son was at home that night."