25 arrested across country amid Aug 15 security drives

At least 25 people have been arrested across the country in the latest security drives, including a 32-year-old man detained at Dhanmondi-32 in the capital while he was visiting the site to pay floral tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Arnab Das was arrested around 10am on Saturday and later sent to jail by a Dhaka court after police accused him of being an active member of the banned Jubo League.

After a hearing on Saturday afternoon, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order. DMP Prosecution Department SI Abul Bashar Abdullah confirmed the matter.

Dhanmondi Model Police Station SI Baban Uddin filed a case against Arnab under the Anti-Terrorism Act and showed him arrested in the case.

Meanwhile, several people were assaulted at Dhanmondi-32 for allegedly chanting “Joy Bangla”, recording videos on mobile phones and distributing singaras. Police later detained three people.

A group led by A N M Ayas, member secretary of an organisation called the State Dialogue Forum (SDF), was allegedly involved in the assaults. The group identified themselves as “July fighters”.

Of the three people taken into custody, two were released after questioning and one was sent to jail through court, said Sheikh Zahidur Islam, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division.

Meanwhile, at 2:45am on August 15, Dhaka University students Mirajul Islam, a resident of Fazlul Huq Hall, and A Kader, a resident of Bijoy Ekattor Hall, were arrested while distributing food on the road in front of the International Crimes Tribunal gate. 

According to the first information report filed by Shahbagh Police Station in an Anti-Terrorism Act case, 10 to 15 others fled the scene.

Separately, Sazzad Hossain Sojal alias Kajal, vice-president of Dhaka Metropolitan North Chhatra League, was arrested from Rupnagar around 12:30am on Friday. He was subsequently shown arrested in an Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with Rupnagar Police Station over an alleged procession of the banned Chhatra League in front of BUBT on October 26, 2025. A court later ordered him to jail.

In Naogaon, police arrested Md Masudur Rahman Masud, a member of the banned Awami Jubo League and former chairman of Mahadebpur Upazila Parishad, in an Anti-Terrorism Act case. He was arrested around noon Saturday from Kunjaban Puratan Bazar under Khajur Union of Mahadebpur.

Police also arrested Mahfuz, 30, an Awami League activist, in South Keraniganj for allegedly organising a munajat marking August 15.

In Lakshmipur’s Ramganj, police arrested 10 people, including five leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations, during a special drive early Saturday. They were later produced before a court.

In Barishal city, police arrested seven leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations during a special drive on Friday night.

In Bheramara, Kushtia, police arrested two leaders of the Jubo League and Swechhasebak League for allegedly organising activists and arranging to cook khichuri around August 15.