Summary:
- Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested banned Chhatra League leader Md. Rubel Ahmed late at night from the Bashila Metro Housing area, who was secretly conducting virtual meetings to create instability.
- Rubel is the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal driver and is accused of participating in a controversial virtual meeting at Park Hotel in Kolkata on January 15.
- A special operation by Mohammadpur Police Station led by Tejgaon Division DC Ibne Mizan has recovered evidence related to digital communications, cross-border networks and clandestine activities.
- The operation comes in the wake of the government’s tough action in recent months against members associated with the Chhatra League, which was banned in 2023 on charges of violence and extortion.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained Mohammad Rubel Ahmed, a leader of the banned Chhatra League, during a late-night raid in the Bashila Metro Housing area on Tuesday. The arrest follows allegations of his involvement in organizing destabilizing activities across Dhaka and other regions while in hiding.
Authorities confirmed Rubel, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal driver, had been coordinating operations through virtual meetings, including a widely reported session at Kolkata’s Park Hotel on January 15, 2025. Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Ibn Mizan oversaw the operation, executed by Mohammadpur Zone Assistant Commissioner, Mohammadpur Thana Officer-in-Charge, and a specialized DMP team.
Rubel’s alleged activities reportedly aimed to incite unrest under the guise of political mobilization. Investigators are scrutinizing digital evidence linking him to cross-border communications and clandestine networks. Legal proceedings are underway, though specific charges remain undisclosed pending further inquiry.
The arrest marks the latest escalation in Bangladesh’s crackdown on banned groups accused of undermining public order. Chhatra League, once affiliated with the ruling Awami League, was outlawed in 2023 following violent clashes and extortion allegations. Security analysts note heightened surveillance of virtual platforms since the Park Hotel meeting, which authorities claim involved anti-state elements.
DMP officials reaffirmed their commitment to “preemptively neutralizing threats” through coordinated intelligence operations. The case has drawn attention to concerns about underground political networks leveraging digital tools to evade detection.
