Police in Kishoreganj have arrested Anwar Kamal, a former publicity secretary of the district Awami League, along with another person after a protest procession was held to mark the anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack.
The procession was organised under the banner of the Kishoreganj district unit of the Awami League-affiliated organisations to protest the grenade attack of August 21, 2004. The event reportedly drew members and supporters of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies and passed through several roads in the town.
The two arrested men were produced before a court on Saturday (22 August). The court rejected their bail petition and ordered that they be sent to Kishoreganj District Jail. The identity of the second person arrested has not been confirmed. However, the administration said he was an active supporter of the Awami League.
According to party and local sources, the procession was organised under the banner of the Kishoreganj district unit of the Awami Swechchhasebak League. Ariful Islam Arif, a former general secretary of the Kishoreganj Sadar upazila unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and a prominent leader of the district Swechchhasebak League, led the procession.
The march moved through several streets in Kishoreganj town before ending. Following the programme, law enforcement agencies launched an operation in the area and arrested Anwar Kamal and another participant. They were subsequently taken into custody and produced before the court after legal procedures were initiated.
The officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station said the police became aware of the procession after videos of the event were posted on social media. Following the reports, officers launched an operation and began reviewing the footage to identify those who took part.
Police are now examining the videos to identify members and activists associated with the Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Chhatra League who allegedly participated in the procession. The officer-in-charge said further arrests would be made once the individuals are identified.
The August 21 grenade attack remains one of the most significant incidents in Bangladesh’s recent political history. On 21 August 2004, grenades were thrown at an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka. The attack killed several people, including Awami League leader Ivy Rahman, and injured Sheikh Hasina, who was then the leader of the opposition.
The anniversary has traditionally been observed by the Awami League and its affiliated organisations through commemorative and protest programmes. This year’s procession in Kishoreganj, however, has resulted in arrests and a police investigation into those who participated.
The latest arrests come as police continue to scrutinise footage of the procession. Authorities have indicated that further action will depend on the identification of individuals seen taking part in the event.
