Summary:
- A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for 17 members of the banned organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, arrested during a “March for Khilafat” rally near Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
- The group clashed with police after defying orders to stop their procession, throwing bricks and stones, prompting law enforcement to use tear gas and sound grenades.
- The arrests were made under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with police identifying the individuals as active members of the banned group based on their slogans, flags, and banners.
- Hizb ut-Tahrir has been banned in Bangladesh since 2009 but continues to organize public activities, raising concerns about extremist activities in the country.
17 members of the banned organization Hizb ut-Tahrir have been placed on a five-day remand by a Dhaka court. The arrests were made during a rally titled “March for Khilafat” near the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, which turned violent when the group clashed with police. The rally, held on March 7, involved thousands of participants demanding the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in Bangladesh.
The accused were arrested from the Paltan area after they defied police attempts to stop their procession. The group used flags, banners, and sticks while chanting slogans, and when confronted by police, they threw bricks and stones. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
The case against the accused was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Paltan Police Station. The arrested individuals include Mohammad Abdullah (22), Tarikul Islam (35), Ahmed Nafiz Morshed (27), Mohammad Shahadat Hossain (36), Tanvir Mahatab Rafat (29), Mohammad Abu Shoheib (34), Ashfaq Ahmed (22), Sabbir Hossain alias Jion (21), Mohammad Rifat Islam Rashid (21), Mohammad Al Rafee Sajjad (23), Redowan Bin Shahidul (20), Miyaji Abdullah Al Muttaqi (19), Habibur Rahman (23), Mohammad Helal Uddin (45), Asaduzzaman Noor (18), Tanim Shikdar Shihab (18), and Ahmed Nasif Kabir Kaby (18).
This incident highlights the resurgence of extremist activities in Bangladesh, particularly under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Bangladesh since 2009, has been increasingly active, organizing public rallies and defying the ban. The group’s actions have raised concerns about national security and the government’s ability to maintain law and order.
Earlier in the week, three other Hizb ut-Tahrir members—Monirul Islam, Mohtasin Billah, and Mahmudul Hasan—were arrested in Uttara for planning a similar rally. They were remanded for varying terms under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted the operation, seizing documents related to the organization. The arrested individuals admitted to being active members of Hizb ut-Tahrir during initial interrogations.
