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Published : 26 Mar 2025, 04:13 PM
Police have detained three individuals for allegedly “attempting to incite unrest” by chanting the slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” at the National Memorial in Savar on Independence Day.
They were apprehended on the memorial premises around 11:30am on Wednesday.
The detainees are Selim Reza, 45, secretary general of Mutijuddho Prajanma League’s central committee, Md Shahidul Islam, 48, a member of the group, and Md Sohel Parvez, 40, from Ashulia’s Dakkhin Gazirchat.
According to witnesses, a group of around 30 people carrying red flags had just finished paying their respects at the memorial around 11:15am. As they were leaving, they began chanting slogans inspired by the Liberation War, including "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" ("Victory to Bangladesh, Victory to Bangabandhu") and "Tumi Ke, Ami Ke, Bangali, Bangali" ("Who are you, who am I? Bengali, Bengali").
"The Awami League gave birth to Bangladesh," one of them told bdnews24.com.
"The children of freedom fighters from around the country are here. We’ve pledged to make the spirit of the Liberation War a reality," another said, identifying himself as part of the central committee of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Santan Sangsad.
"We're a force in favour of the Liberation War and independence,” said one Biman Howladar.
Later, several young men confronted the group and began assaulting up, eventually chasing them away.
Asked why they drove the group away, one of the youths said someone from the sloganeers mentioned "holding a key post" in the Chhatra League, the Awami League's student affiliate.
Later, one of the sloganeers grabbed a person near the main entrance, dragged him inside the memorial and beat him while demanding that he chanted "Joy Bangla". He later let the person go when others intervened.
Asked why he was attacked, the man said: "They were chanting the Joy Bangla slogan. My identity is that I stand with the people of this country who want freedom."
Dhaka District Additional Police Superintendent (Savar Circle) Shahinur Kabir said, “Shouting slogans in this situation amounts to provocation and an attempt to create unrest. That's why they were detained.”
