At least 46 Awami League and Chhatra League leaders and activists were detained across the country on Wednesday and Thursday amid security operations around party programs.
In the capital, a Chhatra League activist was caught by locals while throwing petrol bombs from an autorickshaw in Mirpur’s Kafrul area and handed over to the police.
The incident occurred around 11:30am on Thursday in front of Kafrul police station.
The arrested person, Md Naeem, 22, a resident of Kafrul, was found with two petrol bomb-like objects wrapped in red duct tape.
Kafrul police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mamun said Naeem tried to flee in a battery-powered autorickshaw but was caught with the help of locals and is now under interrogation.
Meanwhile, 42 people were arrested in a special drive in Savar, Ashulia, and Dhamrai in Dhaka. Of them, 28 were detained in Savar, five in Ashulia, and three in Dhamrai. They were sent to court on Thursday.
Savar Model police station OC Md Jewel Mia said: “A total of 28 leaders and activists of various levels of the Awami League were arrested from yesterday (Wednesday) to today (Thursday).”
Ashulia police station OC Abdul Hannan added: “Eleven people were arrested in connection with cases related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and sabotage. They were sent to court.”
Dhamrai Police Inspector (Investigation) Shahidul Islam confirmed the arrest of three Awami League members who were also sent to court.
Dhaka district police have stepped up patrols and check-posts in key areas, including Savar, Ashulia, and Dhamrai, to prevent sabotage during the Awami League lockdown program.
Additional SP Arafatul Islam said: “Plainclothes and mobile duty officers are on high alert as part of the security arrangements.”
In Boalkhali, Chittagong, the army arrested three Awami League and Jubo League leaders during a drive at Jamtal area on Wednesday evening, seizing one shotgun, four cocktails, shotgun ammunition, four mobile phones, and over Tk89,000 in cash.
Boalkhali Army Camp Commander Captain Sheikh Abrar Fayyaz said: “The three were staying at a farm in Jamtal with the intention of sabotage. They were handed over to the police for filing a case.”
He added that Nurul Amin, one of the arrested, has a prior record, including occupying a polling station with weapons during the national election and extortion.
