Case Filed Over Dawn Procession by Banned Organisation in Jessore, 57 Detained Across District

A case has been filed over allegations that leaders and activists of the activities-banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations held a protest procession and chanted anti-government slogans at the Mike Patti intersection of Laldighirpar in Jessore town. The case names 55 people and lists a further 150 to 200 unidentified people as accused.

Police have detained 16 people on allegations of involvement in the incident. Including those 16, a total of 57 people have been detained across the district on various allegations.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Kamruzzaman of the Puratan Kasba police outpost filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act on Monday (2 November) as the complainant.

According to the case statement, while stationed at Daratana intersection at 5:20am on 1 November, police learned through secret information that about 200 to 220 leaders and activists of the activities-banned Awami League and its front organisations had gathered at the Mike Patti intersection of Laldighirpar, were holding a protest procession and were chanting various slogans against the current government.

On receiving the news, a police team went to the spot after informing senior officers. The complaint also says that, sensing the presence of police, the demonstrators dispersed and fled while chanting slogans.

The case statement further says the demonstrators carried out the programme with the aim of obstructing public movement, overthrowing the current government and carrying out anti-state activities.

Among those named in the case are Jubo League leader Sheikh Shahid of Nilganj Tantipara, Imran Hossain Khan Badal of Puratan Kasba, Mohammad Ali of Shankarpur, Biplob Hossain of Tentulia village, Tanvir of Bhaturia village, Jessore Medical College Chhatra League vice-president Touhidur Rahman Shakil, Narendrapur union Jubo League general secretary Milan Shah and district Chhatra League organising secretary Sourav Hossain Avi, among others.

The 16 people detained in this case include Sheikh Shahid, Imran Hossain Badal, Mohammad Ali, Biplob Hossain, Tanvir, Rafiqul Islam, Sazzadul Islam Roki alias Sohag, Tariq Aziz, Nur Alam, Kamruzzaman, Mokbul Hossain and Sheikh Shahazada Selim Hridoy, among others.

Jessore Superintendent of Police Syed Rafiqul Islam said followers of the activities-banned Awami League held the procession very early in the morning. Police took the matter into account, filed a case, and detained 16 people in that case.

The superintendent of police also said police and DB police in nine police stations of Jessore detained a total of 41 more people on sabotage allegations. Among them are 17 people from the Kotwali police station area, seven of whom had taken part directly in the procession.

The superintendent of police also gave the station-by-station figures: Chowgacha police detained two people, Manirampur three, Sharsha two, Abhaynagar four, Keshabpur three, Bagharpara four, Benapole Port four and Jhikargacha two.