Police Detaining Anyone from Gopalganj During Mess and Hotel Raids

Staff Correspondent

Police conducted overnight searches at various messes and hotels in the capital, focusing on the banned Awami League’s ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program. At least 44 people were arrested during the raids, most of whom are from Gopalganj district.

Police claim that these individuals have been detained for questioning as suspects in a sabotage plot.

However, locals have complained that the police are only arresting residents of Gopalganj, raising concerns of human rights violations.

Earlier, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjad Ali started the work of separately identifying the residents of Gopalganj.

On Tuesday afternoon, the DMP said at the media center that a person from a particular district has been arrested while setting fire to a bus in the capital.

Meanwhile, from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Intelligence Division (DB) and other units conducted raids on residential hotels and messes in various areas including Bangabandhu Avenue, Fakirapool, Kakrail, Elephant Road, Kalabagan.

During the search, the guests were asked for their national identity cards, occupations and reasons for coming to Dhaka. Some witnesses said that if anyone’s mobile phone showed evidence of contact with the Awami League or its affiliates, they were immediately detained.

Ramna Division Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) Masud Alam said, “The operation is being conducted based on specific information. Eleven people were arrested from a mess in Kalabagan last night, who are suspected of having gathered in Dhaka to carry out sabotage.”

He also said that after the initial interrogation of the detainees, their names were checked in the police’s crime database (CDMS).

“Of the 11 people arrested from Kalabagan, five are residents of Gopalganj — previous cases have been found against them,” said DC Masud.

However, human rights activists say that suspecting and arresting a person based on their district identity violates constitutional rights. Innocent citizens are also being harassed in such operations.

The Public Relations Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said in a message, “DB has arrested 44 more leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations by conducting raids in various places in the capital.”

As the verdict in Sheikh Hasina’s case approaches, the Awami League has announced a protest program from November 10 to 13. The campaign is being conducted around the party’s November 13 ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program.

Human rights organizations say that, regardless of the political situation, arresting a citizen based on their identity or district is against the rule of law and is creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the capital.