Two arrested over loudspeaker campaign on Hasina’s return

Police have arrested the presidents of the banned Chhatra League and Swechchhasebak League units in Naogaon’s Manda upazila over a loudspeaker campaign claiming that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would return to Bangladesh in December.

An autorickshaw used in the campaign was also seized, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarikul Islam said on Friday.

The arrestees are Shahidul Islam Shahid, 43, president of the banned Chhatra League’s Kashopara Union unit, and Abdul Jalil Sarker, 50, president of the Swechchhasebak League’s Manda Sadar Union unit.

The SP said a short video showing the announcement was uploaded online by Mohammad Aslam Hossain Tipu and several others in an open field near the Naogaon-Rajshahi district border in Kashopara Union.

After the video came to the attention of district police on Thursday night, they launched an investigation and arrested the two leaders on allegations of attempting to create instability.

During questioning, Shahidul admitted that he was aware of the matter, the SP said, adding that efforts were underway to arrest others involved in the campaign.

The video, which circulated on social media on Thursday, showed a young man using a loudspeaker mounted on a moving battery-powered autorickshaw to announce Hasina’s planned return in December.

The announcement also called on people to welcome her, while urging party leaders and activists to remain prepared for possible political programmes.