A meeting allegedly involving local leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League was disrupted by the Detective Branch (DB) of police in Fatullah, Narayanganj, amid tensions over the illegal extraction of soil from the Dhaleshwari River.
The incident followed an alleged assault on a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who had protested against the unauthorised extraction of soil from the river. Police subsequently stopped the operation, prompting concern among local political activists, according to accounts from the area.
Local sources said a meeting was arranged at the residence of Kadir CBI, identified as a joint secretary of the third ward unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, in the Sipai Para area of Baktabali Union on Wednesday afternoon. The gathering was reportedly intended to discuss the situation surrounding soil extraction from the Dhaleshwari River.
According to local sources, between 14 and 15 people were expected to attend. Those reportedly present included Samed Ali, treasurer of the Baktabali Union Awami League; Hasan Ali, secretary of its sixth ward unit; Mannek Khan, vice-president of the first ward unit of the Krishak League; and joint secretary Delwar Hossain Messi.
Police said those expected to attend the gathering were each facing cases filed in connection with the anti-discrimination movement. However, details of the individual cases and their current legal status were not immediately available.
Nazrul Pradhan, president of the Baktabali Union BNP, was also reportedly expected to join the meeting. His alleged involvement, however, has been disputed.
Before the gathering could proceed, a team from the Narayanganj District Detective Branch arrived at Kadir CBI’s residence. Their sudden presence reportedly caused those at the house to leave.
According to multiple DB sources familiar with the operation, Samed Ali and other individuals managed to flee after women were allegedly brought forward to obstruct the police officers and prevent them from approaching the premises. The officers were unable to identify all those present, which made it difficult to detain them.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged gathering have raised questions about possible political coordination over the river excavation issue. However, the precise purpose of the meeting and whether any agreement concerning the resumption of soil extraction was discussed remain unclear.
Nazrul Pradhan has denied that he was due to attend any meeting at the residence of an Awami League leader. Speaking about the allegation, he said the claim that he had a scheduled meeting there was untrue. He also said he was unaware that Kadir CBI had been involved in Chhatra League politics.
The dispute over soil extraction has become a source of tension in the area, particularly following the alleged assault on the NCP leader who objected to the activity. Unauthorised excavation from riverbeds can disrupt natural river formations, affect riverbanks and create risks for nearby land and settlements. Such operations are generally subject to relevant legal and administrative controls.
The police intervention has brought the alleged political gathering into focus, but several aspects of the incident remain unverified. These include the identities of everyone present, the precise agenda of the meeting and the extent of any involvement by local BNP representatives. No confirmed information about arrests following the DB operation was available in the initial account.
