Madaripur, Aug 15 (V7N) – Law enforcement authorities detained three political activists in Madaripur on Friday during a gathering allegedly held by the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations. The event, a public feast (locally known as gono-bhoj), was reportedly organized to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, who was assassinated on August 15, 1975.

The arrests took place around 12:30 PM in the Itarpool area of Madaripur municipality. The detainees have been identified as Kazi Sahadat Hossain Mithu, Joint General Secretary of the district Swechchhasebak League; Mintu Khan, a member of the same organization; and Badol Shikdar.

According to the police, the operation was conducted based on confidential intelligence. Officers claimed that the suspects were part of a politically restricted organization, and their gathering was intended to destabilize public order. While several others managed to flee the scene, police detained the three individuals after confirming their involvement.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Jahangir Alam stated that the detained individuals were openly participating in activities organized by a banned political entity, which is illegal under current regulations. “We conducted the operation after receiving specific information. Their actions were in clear violation of the law,” he said.

Law enforcement officials also mentioned that the detainees are already implicated in multiple legal cases and that a new case is currently under preparation concerning Friday’s incident.

Although August 15 is marked nationwide with solemn observances and tributes, gatherings organized by factions currently restricted by law have been subject to heightened surveillance and legal action. Authorities emphasized that any unauthorized political activities, even under the guise of memorial events, will be dealt with under existing legal frameworks.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between political activism and state regulation in post-2024 Bangladesh, where several factions have faced temporary or long-term bans due to concerns about national security and political stability.

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