Police detain 210 members of Jamaat, Shibir from Chattogram motel

Police have detained at least 210 leaders and activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, including the Jamaat ameer and Shibir president, from a Parjatan Corporation motel in Chattogram.

They were detained in a raid on Motel Saikat on Station Road on Saturday night, said SM Mostaeen Hossain, deputy commissioner of the city police.

Police raided the motel following a tip and detained more than two hundred people, he told reporters.

Mohammed Mohsin, chief of the Kotwali Police Station, later told bdnews24.com that the detainees were arrested under the Special Powers Act.

Chattogram city Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer AJM Obaidullah, Chattogram South Ccity Shibir President Rafiqul Hasan Lodi, Secretary Imranul Haque and many others were detained in the raid.

Lodi is a resident of Sylhet but he came to Chattogram regarding his organisational responsibilities, OC Mohsin said.

Deputy Commissioner Mostaeen had told reporters the previous night that, the Jamaat and Shibir activists had gathered at the motel for an alleged Eid get-together, but had not sought permission from police.

“An organisation named ‘Parabar’, the cultural affairs wing of Shibir’s Chattogram City North unit, organised the programme,” said OC Mohsin.

Another police officer said that the the leaders of Chattogram south and north Islami Chhatro Shibir organised two separate programmes named ‘Sonibar Eid get-together’. Chattogram city Jammat Ameer Muhammad Shahjahan was the chief guest in the north city’s programme.

On the other hand, Chattogram city Jammat Nayeb-e-Ameer AJM Obaidullah, who is also a teacher of International Islami University, was the chief guest of the south city’s programme.

Police said the programmes were basically a formal meeting in the name of an Eid get-together and the attendees had been detained for organising such a political meeting without permission.