Police raid JSD office, 300 detained over ‘AL links’

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained around 280-300 people from the central office of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at GPO intersection in Gulistan on Saturday following allegations that leaders and activists of the banned Awami League (AL) were holding a secret meeting there.

The raid began around 2:30pm, and those detained were taken to Paltan Police Station for questioning and screening, said Md Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Motijheel Division.

Paltan Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arifur Islam said some people had been taken to the police station based on specific intelligence information.

“They are being questioned and screened. Legal action will be taken after the verification process,” he said.

According to police and local residents, BNP’s Jubo Dal central executive committee Joint General Secretary Rabiul Islam Nayan and leaders and activists of Paltan thana Jubo Dal gathered outside the JSD office after alleging that Awami League leaders and activists had assembled there.

A large number of police personnel, including DC Harun-or-Rashid, later arrived and launched the raid. From around 4pm, several people were seen being taken out of the office one after another in handcuffs.

DC Harun said JSD and Awami League leaders and activists, along with members of their affiliated organisations, had gathered at the office allegedly with an intention to carry out sabotage or for other ulterior purposes.

Police took immediate action after receiving the information, he said, adding that local students and members of the public assisted them.

He also said "Joy Bangla" slogans had previously been raised at the office and that many outsiders were present. Police were checking why they had gathered, what information they possessed and what they had done there before deciding on legal action, he said.

By 9pm, around 280-300 people had been taken into custody and brought to Paltan Police Station, according to DC Harun. The operation was still underway at the time.

Meanwhile, a photograph of Abu Zafar Surya in handcuffs was posted on his Facebook account, along with a message saying police had taken him and many others away while they were performing their professional duties at a JSD representatives' meeting.

He said he was at Paltan Police Station but did not know where he would be taken.

Regarding the detention of journalists, DC Harun said many people had been taken to the police station from the scene and their identities had not yet been confirmed. Necessary action would be taken after determining whether any journalists were among those detained, he said.

JSD's account
JSD claimed that it had applied to the DMP commissioner and the DC of Motijheel Division on September 23 and 24 seeking permission to use microphones and security for its representatives' meeting.

The party said the applications had been received, but its office was nevertheless attacked and raided on Saturday.

Several police officials contacted by this correspondent said they were unaware of the matter. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Akhtar Hossain also said he was not aware of it. DC Harun-or-Rashid could not be reached by phone at 9pm.

JSD Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain said around 400 representatives from across the country attended the party's central representatives' meeting, which began at 10:30am.

He alleged that BNP activists first arrived at the office and assaulted some JSD leaders and activists despite police being present. Police later arrived in the afternoon and began detaining party members, he claimed.

Sajjad said no JSD leader or activist had been able to leave the office and that police were taking them away one by one.

He confirmed that Abu Zafar Surya had been detained and said Surya attended the meeting as a JSD supporter.