Bailed activists of banned groups to face arrest if reorganise: Rajshahi DIG

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for the Rajshahi Range has issued a "special directive" instructing law enforcement personnel to show-arrest leaders and activists of "banned" and "suspended fascist organizations" in other cases if they are released on bail and deemed capable of reorganizing their groups.

The directive, sent on Tuesday by Rajshahi Range DIG Mohammad Shahjahan to the Superintendents of Police in eight districts-Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, and Joypurhat-does not explicitly mention the Bangladesh Awami League or its affiliates. However, crime analysts noted that the terms "banned" and "suspended fascist organizations" are widely understood to refer to the Awami League, whose activities were prohibited by the outgoing interim government.

According to the DIG's order, leaders and activists of such organizations who, "after being released on bail, are capable of strengthening, reorganizing, and carrying out activities at the grassroots level," must be shown arrested in other cases."