Banned AL flash processions, tyre burning in Habiganj; nine arrested
Leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its associate organisations held flash processions and set tyres on fire on roads in different parts of Habiganj. BNP and its associate organisations held protest processions against these incidents.
According to locals, a few people set tyres on fire on a road in the Nosratpur area of Shayestaganj upazila in the district early on Monday and left. BNP held a protest procession in Shayestaganj against the incident. Police then launched a drive to arrest those involved.
On the same day, a video of a flash procession of the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League in Habiganj district town spread on the social media platform Facebook. Chhatra Dal held a protest procession at night against it.
Police, meanwhile, conducted a drive and arrested nine leaders and activists of the Awami League and Chhatra League.
Those arrested are Zakir Hossain (30), Advocate Abul Kalam (50), Rafiq Mia (45), Sohel Mia (35), Aminul Islam (47), Chhandu Mia (56), Abdul Mannan (62), Md Enam Mia (48) and Nazmul Islam Bakul (50).
Of them, Zakir Hossain is the organising secretary of the Habiganj district Chhatra League. He has been arrested for the second time. Nazmul Islam Bakul is the convener of the Chunarughat municipal Jubo League. The other seven arrested are office-bearers of different union Awami League units of Habiganj Sadar upazila.
They were shown arrested in a case filed over setting fire to the July memorial.
Jahidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station, said the nine were shown arrested in various cases and sent to jail.
The activities of the banned organisations' leaders and activists and the police drive have sparked discussion across the district. The day remained tense, with BNP's protest after the early-morning tyre burning in Shayestaganj and Chhatra Dal's protest at night.
Police said the drive to arrest others involved is continuing. After the nine arrested were sent to jail, the legal process in the cases against them will proceed.
