15 Arrested in Chattogram During 15 August Gathering

Police in Chattogram have arrested 15 people, including several lawyers, while preparations were under way for a programme marking the 51st anniversary of the death of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The arrests took place on Saturday night, 15 August, in the Double Mooring police station area of Chattogram city. According to lawyers and local sources, a gathering had been organised at the residence of advocate Umme Habiba, a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, to observe the anniversary through a discussion, prayers and a religious gathering.

Police reportedly arrived at the residence after receiving information about the event and took those present into custody before bringing them to the police station. A total of 15 people were subsequently arrested, according to the police.

The individuals identified as arrested are advocates Umme Habiba, Kamela Khanam, Ayesha Heaven, Sujla Antara and Sharmin Yasmin Nishu. The others are Iskandar Mirza, Sanjoy Kanti Nath, SM Salahuddin, Ahsan Abid, Sultan Mahmud Zidan, Partha Pratim Nandi, Shuvo Aich, Mashiur Rahman Abir, Zakir Hossain and Jishu Roy Chowdhury.

Double Mooring police station officer-in-charge Shahinur Alam confirmed the arrests on Sunday afternoon. He said 15 people had been detained from a location within the station’s jurisdiction on Saturday night. He indicated that two or three of those detained were lawyers, while the others were not members of the legal profession.

The officer said further details would be provided by the public relations branch of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. He added that legal proceedings were being prepared against the arrested individuals under specific provisions of the law.

Police said the operation was conducted after receiving specific information and taking law-and-order considerations into account. Authorities were also preparing to produce the arrested individuals before a court, according to the police.

The incident has generated considerable discussion within the local legal community and around the court premises. The presence of several members of the district bar association among those arrested has drawn particular attention from fellow lawyers.

Chattogram District Bar Association general secretary Mohammad Moinuddin said he was attending an important meeting when contacted and would comment on the matter later.

The association’s president, Tariq Ahmed, said he was seeking detailed information about the incident. As president, he said, he had a responsibility towards all members of the association, but he was not yet in a position to provide a full account.

The arrests come against the backdrop of heightened sensitivity surrounding political gatherings and public programmes in Bangladesh. Events marking 15 August have historically carried major political significance, and authorities have in recent years closely monitored gatherings associated with the occasion, particularly where questions of public order or legal compliance arise.

For now, the precise legal provisions under which the 15 individuals are being proceeded against have not been publicly detailed by the police. Further information is expected once the metropolitan police authorities disclose the formal allegations and the arrested individuals are brought before the court.