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Published : 01 Aug 2025, 07:44 PM
Police say they are conducting a “thorough” investigation to uncover the motives and organisers behind a “conspiratorial” meeting held in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area, which has already led to 22 arrests.
Despite “several threats” circulating on social media surrounding the interim government's anniversary on Aug 8, police say they see no security concerns at the moment.
The meeting, which took place on Jul 8 at a convention centre, reportedly involved several hundred activists from the banned Awami League and its affiliates.
A serving Army officer Major Sadequl Hoque is in military custody over his alleged participation in the meeting.
Reports suggest an Army court of inquiry has been formed to investigate his suspected political affiliations.
At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman, fielded questions from journalists on the matter.
He said: “We had information about a meeting at KB Convention Hall in Bashundhara on the 8th of July. The venue was rented by one Shamima Nasrin Shompa, who used the name of an organisation claiming to send people abroad.
“People were taken there with conspiratorial intent, prompting a case to be filed at Vatara Police Station on the 13th of July.”
“We’ve already made 22 arrests,” Talebur added. “We’re treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
“Whether there are other dimensions to this incident, what the real motive was, and who else may be behind it -- these questions will be answered soon.”
According to the case filed at Vatara Police Station, the meeting was organised by the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.
The gathering included activists from the Awami League, Chhatra League, and retired government officials, with an estimated attendance of 300 to 400.
The First Information Report (FIR) says during the day-long meeting, participants shouted anti-government slogans and allegedly discussed plans to mobilise people from across the country to Dhaka, occupy the Shahbagh intersection, and create instability in the capital.
The aim, according to the report, was to spread fear among the public and force the return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
When asked about the online "threats" surrounding Aug 8, Talebur said: “Over the past year, we have observed planned activities aimed at disrupting law and order on several occasions. We remain vigilant.”
He claimed the overall law and order situation in Dhaka has improved steadily over the past year.
“Currently, we do not see any security threat centred on August. We remain alert, our regular operations continue, and we are ready to respond to any situation.”
Talebur alleged that certain groups continue to make attempts to “destabilise” the city, but added that intelligence surveillance is in place.
He said eight people linked to the banned Awami League and affiliated organisations have been arrested from different areas in Dhaka in the last 24 hours.
“Based on our intelligence, if we receive specific allegations and find anyone involved in attempts to disrupt law and order, we are making arrests accordingly, Talebur added. “It is clear that we are not making arbitrary or harassing arrests.”
As part of their recent operations, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police deployed 489 patrol units across its 50 stations and set up 66 checkposts at key locations in the city.
In that same 24-hour period, police also arrested 254 people for a variety of criminal offences.
Police confiscated 20 mobile phones, six motorcycles, a private car, and a quantity of illegal drugs during the raids.
