Six Awami League Activists Arrested in Sherpur Overnight Drive

Police in Sherpur have arrested six local leaders and activists affiliated with the Awami League and its associate organisations following late-night rallies and commemorative events held across the district on 14 August. The arrests were made during coordinated overnight operations prompted by video footage circulated on social media platforms showing torchlit processions, floral tributes, and food distribution drives organized under the cover of darkness.

The crackdowns followed a series of unannounced gatherings across several upazilas in Sherpur on the eve of 15 August. Local party workers had organized midnight torch rallies, mourning processions, and flower offerings at local school Shahid Minars (martyrs’ monuments), subsequently distributing food packages to mark the occasion. Digital monitoring teams within law enforcement identified the participants after footage of these covert events was uploaded to various personal and organizational Facebook accounts.

Law enforcement officers targeted multiple sub-districts during the raid, taking six key individuals into custody. The arrested persons have been identified as:

• Khokon Islam (20): Vice-President of the Sherpur Municipality Chhatra League, residing in the Beparipara neighbourhood of Ward Girdanarayanpur.

• Md. Ataul alias Jewel (46): Former General Secretary of Ward No. 8 Awami League under Char Sherpur Union in Sadar Upazila.

• Sohel Rana (25): Former Vice-President of the Nani Union Chhatra League in Nalitabari Upazila.

• Mainuddin (35): Joint General Secretary of the Rupnarayankura Union Jubo League in Nalitabari Upazila.

• Md. Azahar Ali (36): Publicity Secretary of the Jhenaigati Upazila Jubo League.

• Md. Muslim Uddin alias Arafat (19): Member of the Jhenaigati Upazila Chhatra League.

Sherpur District Superintendent of Police AKM Zahirul Islam confirmed the police actions, explaining that leaders and activists belonging to the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League had attempted to stage midnight demonstrations in remote rural areas as well as along secondary arterial roads.

According to police sources, party members attempted to bypass security oversight by conducting brief, unannounced processions late at night before immediately disseminating the recorded material online. Law enforcement authorities established enhanced surveillance across main thoroughfares and rural outposts to counter further attempts at public gatherings, carrying out targeted nightly raids across all administrative subdivisions within the district.

The six detained individuals remain in police custody while investigators examine the retrieved digital media to identify additional participants involved in organizing the late-night rallies across the district.