Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested 46 activists of the Awami League (AL) and its affiliates during flash rallies across the city, reports bdnews24.com.
According to police, the arrests were made on Friday from different parts of the capital.
With these latest detentions, nearly 3,000 people have been arrested from AL processions in the first 10 months of this year.
At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Friday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Mohammad Talebur Rahman said: "Banned organisations have repeatedly tried to create panic in the public mind by staging flash rallies in the capital. In response, DMP today [Friday] arrested 46 activists of the banned Awami League and its associate bodies from various locations."
Talebur said Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police arrested 18 people; the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit detained 13, while Khilkhet, Uttara West, Badda, Banani, and Tejgaon police arrested 4, 2. 3, 3, and 3 individuals respectively.
He said the detainees are 'members' of the AL, which is banned from carrying out political activities. Most of them came from outside Dhaka to join the rallies.
Among them are members of the party's front organisations from Trishal, Sylhet, Fenchuganj, Satkhira, Bogura, Barguna and Kushtia Islamic University units, the officer added.
Referring to the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar arrests, Rahman said 18 people were picked up when 90-100 people gathered for a rally around 6:45 am on Friday.
The DMP remains active to curb 'subversive acts' under the guise of rallies, Talebur said, adding that regular cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act have been filed against the detainees. Authorities are verifying whether they are linked to other criminal activities.
On whether the arrests were targeted, Talebur replied: "Many of those we arrested today, and earlier, came from outside Dhaka to take part in these flash rallies. Some are being financed by others. Each participant receives a specific payment for joining a rally."
