54 held in capital on suspicions of 'plotting 15 Aug sabotage'

The police detained 54 members of the banned Awami League (AL) and its affiliates from an apartment in the capital’s Bhatara Police Station area on Thursday night, after receiving information they were plotting sabotage on Saturday.

Saturday or the 15th of August marks the death anniversary of AL ideological leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Tanvir Ahmed, deputy police commissioner of Gulshan Division under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said police raided the house based on a tip-off that a large group of AL activists had gathered there with the plan to carry out "major subversive acts" on 15 August.

Separately, however, Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam downplayed the threats, saying the AL activists had gathered at the apartment only to plan a mourning programme, and flash processions on  Saturday.

They wore white and had a badge to the chest side, Mazharul Islam noted.

The accused carried placards and banners, and were also canting “anti-state slogans” before they were apprehended, Tanvir Ahmed and Mazharul Islam both said.

All the anti-state propaganda items were seized, the police officers added.

Legal measures are underway against the detainees, he further said.