In a swift intelligence-led operation, law enforcement officers in Chittagong intercepted a flash procession planned by political activists on Friday afternoon. Police detained 14 individuals affiliated with the Bangladesh Awami League and its associated wings, Jubo League and Chhatra League, as they gathered near the Muradpur No. 1 Railgate intersection under the Panchlaish Model Police Station. The raid, conducted at approximately 12:30 pm on Friday, 28 August, successfully neutralised what officials described as a coordinated attempt to incite civil unrest in the port city.
Acting on precise intelligence regarding an unpermitted gathering, a police contingent spearheaded by Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haq and Inspector (Investigation) Amitabha Dutta moved rapidly to surround the area. Muradpur serves as one of Chittagong’s most critical transit hubs, where major vehicular arteries converge. Sensing the incoming security detail, several activists attempted to disperse into nearby lanes. However, officers moved in a synchronized cordoning maneuver, taking 14 suspects into custody on the spot.
Security measures across the port city have remained unusually stringent in recent months amidst heightened vigilance against public disruption and unlawful political assembly. Even on a public holiday, police patrols across key intersections were active. Officers noted that had the flash rally proceeded in such a vital commercial corridor, it could have triggered widespread panic, gridlocked traffic, and compromised public safety.
Following their arrest, the suspects were transferred to Panchlaish Model Police Station for processing. Authorities confirmed that a formal case has been registered against all 14 individuals under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009. Police investigators suspect that the group had assembled with the deliberate intention of orchestrating acts of sabotage and destabilising public order.
Under strict security protocols, the detainees were subsequently produced before a Chittagong court following the completion of preliminary administrative procedures at the station. Addressing reporters, Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haq reaffirmed that law enforcement is maintaining a strict zero-tolerance policy towards illegal assembly, disruptive political activities, and subversion. He added that comprehensive inquiries remain ongoing to uncover any mastermind or financial backer who may have coordinated the event from behind the scenes.
