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Police have released 249 people detained during a raid on the central office of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) in Dhaka’s Gulistan-GPO area, after verifying their identities.
Md Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Motijheel Division, confirmed the development on Sunday.
He said at least 29 people remained in police custody as their identity verification had not yet been completed. However, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed later told reporters at the Secretariat that 27 people were still in custody.
Police raided the Jasad office on Saturday and took 278 people into custody during the operation.
Among those detained was Abu Zafar Surya, former president of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists. He was later released.
According to police, the raid followed information that leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations had gathered at the Jasad office and were preparing for possible acts of sabotage or other unlawful activities.
Harun-or-Rashid said police had also received information that slogans of “Joy Bangla” had been chanted at the office.
He said those found to have been involved in any unlawful activities after verification would face legal action, while those found not to be involved would be dealt with separately.
The raid took place while Jasad was holding a central representatives’ meeting at its office. A group led by Jubo Dal central leader Rabiul Islam Nayon had gathered outside, alleging that some participants in the meeting had links to the banned Awami League.
Police later arrived, brought the situation under control and took people inside the office to the police station one by one.
Jasad said the meeting had been organised in accordance with the party’s rules. It also claimed that it had applied to the DMP commissioner and the deputy commissioner of the Motijheel Division on September 23 and 24 seeking permission to use a microphone and requesting security for the meeting.
The party said copies of the applications carried police receiving seals and signatures.
However, Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ariful Alam said he was unaware of any such application.