Police have arrested Md Aniruzzaman Anik, the former president of the Pirojpur district unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), from the capital’s Bhatara area. The 35-year-old was apprehended during an early-morning raid at approximately 3:20 am on Wednesday from his hideout in the capital.

Anik, the son of Md Aktaruzzaman Fulu and Shirin Akhtar hailing from the Khamkata neighbourhood of Pirojpur Municipality, has been shown arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Following his arrest, investigators produced him before the court with a prayer for a five-day remand to facilitate thorough questioning.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) and official police documents, the arrest stems from an incident on the afternoon of 24 September. On-duty police officers stationed around the Kuril Bishwa Road area received intelligence suggesting that around 20 to 25 leaders and activists belonging to the banned Chhatra League and the politically suspended Awami League were gathering with explosives. Intelligence reports indicated that the group was planning to launch a march towards Kuril Bishwa Road with intent to execute sabotage and destructive activities in the capital.

Acting on the tip-off, a police team rushed to the scene in front of the Kuril Sahara Central Jame Mosque at around 1:10 pm. Seeing the law enforcers arrive, the gathering dispersed rapidly into the nearby alleys. Minutes prior, at around 1:05 pm, several individuals had assembled at the location and chanted provocative slogans against the state. Law enforcement officers noted observing Anik repeatedly engaged in inflammatory discussions with key local leaders of the Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Swechchhasebak League across the Bhatara region.

In their remand application submitted to the court, the police emphasised that intensive interrogation of the accused is vital to unravel the broader conspiracy, verify his personal details, and trace the identities and whereabouts of other fleeing co-conspirators. Sub-Inspector Abdul Kader of Bhatara Police Station confirmed that a check of Anik’s Police Criminal Patrol Record (PCPR) revealed he is currently named as an accused in a total of nine criminal cases across various jurisdictions.