Sunday, 26th July 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 26th July 2026, 4:13 PM
Political activity across Cox’s Bazar district has intensified dramatically following back-to-back demonstrations by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists, prompting anti-terrorism charges from law enforcement and counter-protests from rival political groups.
Events escalated across the Sreenagar-adjacent sub-districts of Ramu and Ukhia over the weekend. A controversial motorcycle rally in Ramu and a covert organizational gathering in Ukhia have stirred local political waters, drawing swift police intervention and formal legal action.
Tensions flared in Ramu on Sunday morning following a motorcycle parade and street procession organized by BCL leaders along the Cox’s Bazar–Chattogram highway.
Local sources reported that the motorcade assembled around 8:00 am near Swapnatori Park in the Rashidnagar union before proceeding along the highway towards Juaryanala. Participants chanted political slogans throughout the demonstration. Tareq Uddin Mishuk, Joint Convener of the BCL Ramu Upazila branch, had announced the programme on social media late Saturday afternoon.
Confirming the event, Mishuk stated that over a hundred activists gathered around 7:30 am to hold a peaceful rally before heavy rainfall began later in the morning. He noted that fellow student leaders Shaheen Sarwar Kajol and Kawsar Sakib co-led the procession.
Local law enforcement officials, however, questioned the authenticity of the timing. Monirul Islam Bhuiyan, Officer-in-Charge of Ramu Police Station, suggested that the widely circulated video clips might be archival footage:
“It has been raining in Ramu since early morning, whereas the circulated video shows clear skies. This suggests the footage may originate from an earlier demonstration being presented as a fresh event.”
Despite police skepticism, opposition student leaders maintained the rally was genuine. Nurul Islam, former Joint Convener of the Ramu Upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), confirmed that opposition activists verified the Sunday morning timing and pledged to organise counter-demonstrations in response.
The demonstration in Ramu followed an earlier BCL activist meeting held on Saturday afternoon in the Palongkhali union of Ukhia. The event sparked immediate outrage among opposition parties, with local leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal staging a protest march through the Palongkhali Station area to demand the immediate arrest of the organizers.
The situation turned legal on Sunday when Ukhia Police Station filed a formal case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 114 named political figures and an additional 50 to 60 unidentified individuals.
The lawsuit, lodged by Sub-Inspector Palash Barua, alleges that local leaders of the Awami League, Jubo Dal, and BCL convened a covert meeting at the residence of former BCL general secretary Ali Ahmad in Nalbunia village. According to police reports, attendees were planning acts of sabotage, including blocking major highways with felled trees and burning tyres to disrupt public security.
When police patrol units raided the venue, participants attempted to disperse. Officers managed to detain two individuals at the scene:
Milan Barua (42): General Secretary of Ward No. 8, Holdiapalong Union Awami League.
Abu Naser Mohammad Imran (24): Active organizational supporter.
Among the 114 individuals formally named in the First Information Report (FIR) are Ukhia Upazila Awami League President Jahangir Kabir Chowdhury, Vice President Humayun Kabir Chowdhury, General Secretary Nurul Huda, Upazila Jubo League President Imam Hossain, General Secretary Sarwar Kamal Pasha, and BCL Upazila Convener Tareq Hossain Manik.
Atiqur Rahman Majumder, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhia Police Station, confirmed that both detained suspects have been remanded in judicial custody through the courts, adding that police operations remain under way to apprehend the remaining fugitives.
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