Police have arrested six people, including five Chhatra League activists, in separate operations in Tongi, Gazipur, with the arrests taking place at two police stations in the area.
Five people were arrested at Tongi West Police Station, while another was arrested at Tongi East Police Station on Sunday (30 August). The arrests were made as police continued operations aimed at maintaining law and order in the industrial township.
The incident that followed at Tongi East Police Station has drawn attention after several relatives and supporters waiting inside the premises reportedly raised political slogans while the arrested individuals were being taken to a vehicle for production before a court.
According to eyewitnesses, those present were heard chanting, ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu, Joy Netr i Sheikh Hasina’. The slogans were reportedly raised as the detainees were being taken from the station towards the vehicle. The episode has prompted questions over the presence of political activity inside police premises and the extent to which such gatherings are permitted during the transfer of arrested people.
Several journalists were present at the time and recorded parts of the incident on their mobile phones. Some of them later alleged that the Officer-in-Charge of Tongi East Police Station and the relevant Assistant Police Commissioner asked them to delete footage showing the slogans. The journalists claimed that some recordings were subsequently removed.
The allegation, however, could not be independently verified, and the specific reason for the alleged instruction was not immediately established. There was also no independently verified explanation as to whether any formal direction had been issued regarding the footage.
The incident has raised questions among local residents about how political slogans could be raised openly inside a police station, which is under the control of law-enforcement authorities. Residents have also questioned whether such activity could create difficulties in maintaining order and discipline within police premises.
The allegation concerning the journalists’ recordings has added another point of concern. Local people have called for a clear explanation if it is established that journalists were asked to delete footage of the incident. They said the circumstances surrounding any such instruction should be made clear.
The five people arrested at Tongi West Police Station were identified as Md Faruk, 28, a resident of Mondal Market in the Baro Dewra area; Alamin, 31, from Jhenaigati in Sherpur; Sakibul Hossain, also known as Sakib, 19, from Maijdee in Noakhali; Shihab, 27, from Dohar in Dhaka; and Minhaj Masum, 28, from Mohanganj in Netrokona.
According to police information, Faruk is a Chhatra League member, while Alamin is described as an active member. Sakibul Hossain is the vice-president of the Ward 51 Chhatra League unit, and Minhaj Masum is a member of the executive committee of Gazipur Metropolitan Chhatra League. Police did not provide any organisational designation for Shihab.
Separately, police arrested Md Matin, 45, a resident of the Morkun Masterpara area under Tongi East Police Station.
Maksudul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Tongi East Police Station, said cases had been filed against the arrested individuals under the applicable laws and that arrangements were under way to produce them before a court.
He said police were taking strict measures to maintain normal law-and-order conditions. Those involved in acts of sabotage would be identified through investigation and brought under the law, he said, adding that no one involved in such activities would be spared.
Police said their operations in Tongi would continue as part of efforts to maintain law and order.
The reported political slogans inside the police station, along with the allegations concerning journalists’ footage, have placed additional focus on how police premises are managed during arrests and the transfer of detainees. The full circumstances of the incident, including the allegation about deletion of video footage, remain subject to further clarification.
