32 AL activists arrested over Gulshan showdown

Police have arrested 32 people for allegedly taking part in a flash procession of the banned Awami League in the capital’s Gulshan area.

Assistant Press Secretary to the prime minister K M Nazmul Haque made the disclosure in a post on his verified Facebook account on Saturday (September 12).

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said the 32 people who directly participated in the procession were arrested yesterday.

The process of identifying and arresting other participants is also underway, including those who went into hiding outside Dhaka after the procession, according to Nazmul Haque.

Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Daud Hossain told The Daily Star around 150-200 people tried to bring out the procession on Road 3 of Gulshan 1 at around 11:45am.

“When police tried to disperse the procession, the activists blasted two crude bombs,” he said.

He also said police fired two rounds of rubber bullets to disperse them and arrested two people from the spot and recovered five crude bombs left behind by the AL activists.

Videos circulating on social media showed people chanting “Joy Bangla” during the procession.

In a Facebook post, the party confirmed its Dhaka City North unit brought out the procession.