249 released after detention at Jasad office, 29 still held

Police have released 249 of the 278 people detained during a raid on the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) headquarters in Dhaka, while the identities of the remaining 29 are being verified.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Motijheel Division Assistant Commissioner Shakibul Alam Bhuiyan told the media on Sunday afternoon that the 249 people were released after their identities were verified using lists of party leaders and activists and other documents collected from Jasad leaders.

“The identities of the 29 people still in police custody are also being verified. A decision will be taken about them after their identities are confirmed,” he said.

The police officer said no case had been filed in connection with the incident so far.

Paltan police raided the Jasad headquarters in Gulistan on Saturday afternoon after receiving information that leaders and activists of the banned Awami League had gathered there.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid said police had information that members of Jasad, the Awami League and its affiliated organisations had gathered there with an intention to carry out sabotage or other unlawful activities. Police took initial action based on the information, he said.

Among those detained was journalist leader Abu Jafar Surya, a former president of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists. He was released around 5:00 AM on Sunday after about 15 hours in custody.

Surya said he had previously been involved in Jasad politics but was now largely inactive. He went to the party office on Saturday to perform his professional duties and meet former political associates as Jasad was holding a central representatives’ meeting.

He alleged that police handcuffed and detained him despite identifying himself as a journalist and showing his identity card. He said he was released after several rounds of questioning.

Surya also alleged that local leaders and activists of Jubo Dal, including local leader Rabiul Islam Nayan, were involved in creating a mob and attacking people at the site. Nayan’s immediate comment on the allegation was not available.

Jasad said the representatives’ meeting had been organised after informing the police administration and obtaining written permission.

Police said they had information that ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans were chanted outside the Jasad office. DMP Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid said police would verify what other activities took place there and why people had gathered before taking legal action.

DMP Deputy Commissioner for Media and Public Relations Md Aktar Hossain said police went to the office after receiving information about the slogans outside and a meeting inside, and took many people to the police station.

Paltan police Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hossain said at the beginning of the operation that at least 400 people were inside the Jasad office.

Jasad Office Secretary Sajjad Hossain, however, claimed that BNP and Jubo Dal activists attacked the office around 2:30 PM while a representatives’ meeting was underway with around 350 party leaders and activists from across the country. He alleged that police later removed BNP and its affiliated organisation’s activists from the office and detained Jasad leaders and activists.

No immediate comment was available from BNP or Jubo Dal regarding the allegations.

Around 2:30 PM on Saturday, BNP and its affiliated organisation’s activists entered the Jasad office. At the time, Dhaka South Jubo Dal Member Secretary Rabiul Islam Nayan was seen saying that banned Awami League activists were holding a ‘secret meeting’ there.

Jasad denied the allegation, saying its representatives’ meeting was underway and that there was no question of Awami League activists being present there.