15 leaders and activists of banned Awami League and allies held in Netrokona in 24 hours

Police have arrested 15 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its associate organisations in separate cases across different upazilas of Netrokona. They were detained during drives at seven police stations in the district over the last 24 hours in cases filed over sabotage and under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Special Powers Act.

The officers-in-charge (OCs) of the police stations concerned confirmed the arrests on Friday evening.

The highest number of arrests was made in the Netrokona Model police station area. Model station OC Abul Khayer said seven leaders and activists, including an upazila Awami League vice-president and former union parishad chairman in Sadar upazila, along with Jubo League and Chhatra League members, were arrested.

In Durgapur, police arrested three people in a drive. Durgapur station OC Khandakar Shaker Ahmed said the arrestees include the upazila Awami League's agriculture and cooperative affairs secretary.

Police of the stations concerned also confirmed the arrest of a Jubo League leader from the Purbadhala station area in a sabotage case, a Swechchhasebak League leader in Kalmakanda, and a joint convener of the Mohanganj upazila Chhatra League.

Separately, a ward-level Awami League general secretary was arrested from Barhatta and a ward Awami League president from Atpara.

Barhatta station OC Champak Dam and Atpara acting OC Md Jobaydoul Alam confirmed the arrests in their respective areas.