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Police step up monitoring after repeated BCL marches in Chattogram

Published : Saturday, 26 September, 2026 at 5:56 PM

Observer online report

Police and intelligence agencies have stepped up monitoring in Chattogram following a series of sudden processions allegedly organised by leaders and activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in different parts of the city and district.

Small groups have reportedly staged brief marches before quickly leaving the area, with videos of several incidents later circulated on social media. Police are examining how such marches are taking place near important installations and whether law enforcement agencies had prior information about them.

The latest incident took place on Friday at the Indrapul bypass area of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway in Patiya, around one kilometre from Patiya Police Station. A group of around 20 to 30 people reportedly staged a brief procession before leaving the area. Police later began analysing video footage to identify those involved.

Earlier, a similar procession was held in the Badurtala area under Panchlaish Police Station, reportedly organised by the Omar Gani MES College unit of the BCL. A video of the roughly one-minute procession was circulated on social media, after which police collected CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify participants.

Another procession was also reported near Dampara, in front of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police commissioner’s office.

Police had earlier arrested six people each from the Bayezid Bostami area of the city and Faujdarhat Link Road area of Sitakunda while they were allegedly preparing to hold BCL processions. Police have also conducted raids following similar incidents. Reports of such sudden processions have emerged repeatedly in Chattogram in recent months.

Intelligence officials are now collecting information on where the processions are taking place, who is participating, whether the same people are appearing in multiple incidents, and who is organising the gatherings locally.

They are also examining where participants gather, how they communicate and who records and circulates videos of the processions on social media.

The role of police in the areas where the processions occur is also being reviewed, including whether police stations had prior information, whether such information was passed to the appropriate authorities and what surveillance and patrol measures were in place.

Questions have also been raised over whether any police personnel provided information or assistance to participants. However, no evidence of such involvement has been established.

On September 16, an audio recording allegedly featuring then Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rakibul Hasan was circulated on social media. He was withdrawn from the station the following day and attached to the DMP headquarters. A DMP inquiry committee was later formed to investigate the matter.

After the committee reportedly found the audio to be authentic, police filed a case against him on September 24 under Sections 124-A and 153 of the Penal Code. He was subsequently arrested and placed on a five-day remand by a court.

The incident has also prompted increased scrutiny of possible political contacts and information-sharing involving police personnel.

An intelligence official said sudden marches typically involve a small number of people gathering quickly, completing the programme within minutes and dispersing in different directions, making immediate arrests difficult.

However, the official said repeated incidents in different locations require investigators to examine whether there is any coordination behind them, including the organisers, participants’ communications and the network used to circulate videos.

CMP Assistant Commissioner (Media) Md Aminur Rashid said the government had banned the organisation's activities and that no such activities would be allowed.

He said the participants sometimes identify deserted roads or areas with few people, stage their marches and quickly flee.

“We have so far found no information about any of our members being involved in this. There is no scope for such involvement,” he said.

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