Police have arrested 15 people, including five lawyers, during a meeting and prayer gathering organised in connection with the 51st death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Chattogram’s Double Mooring area.
The arrests took place on Saturday night, 15 August, when police raided a private residence where the gathering was being held. The detainees were taken to Double Mooring Police Station, and authorities subsequently began the process of taking legal action against them.
According to lawyers and local sources, the event was organised at the residence of Advocate Umme Habiba, a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association. Several lawyers and local residents were attending the meeting and prayer session when police arrived following information about the programme.
The five lawyers identified among those arrested are Advocate Umme Habiba, Advocate Kamela Khanam, Advocate Ayesha Heaven, Advocate Sujla Antara and Advocate Sharmin Yasmin Nishu. The other detainees have been identified as Iskandar Mirza, Sanjoy Kanti Nath, S M Salauddin, Ahsan Abid, Sultan Mahmud Jidan, Partha Pratim Nandi, Shubha Aich, Mashiur Rahman Abir, Zakir Hossain and Jishu Ray Chowdhury.
Double Mooring Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Alam confirmed the arrests on Sunday afternoon. He said 15 people had been detained from a location under the station’s jurisdiction on Saturday night. He initially indicated that two or three of those detained were lawyers, while stressing that the entire group did not consist of members of the legal profession.
The police officer said further details would be provided by the public relations branch of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. Legal proceedings against the detainees were under way, and preparations were reportedly being made to produce them before a court.
Police said the operation was conducted on the basis of specific information and in consideration of the prevailing law-and-order situation. However, officers did not immediately disclose the precise allegations against the detainees or the specific provisions of law under which proceedings were being initiated.
That lack of detail has prompted questions among members of the legal community about the precise legal grounds for the arrests and what charges, if any, will ultimately be brought before the court. The next stage of the proceedings is therefore expected to provide greater clarity about the circumstances surrounding the operation.
The arrests have also generated discussion within the Chattogram court area. Members of the local legal fraternity have sought information about the condition and legal status of their colleagues.
Chattogram District Bar Association General Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin said he was attending an important meeting and was therefore unable to provide an immediate detailed response. He indicated that he would comment on the matter later.
The association’s president, Tariq Ahmad, said he was attempting to gather detailed information about the incident in his capacity as head of the organisation. He also said that he was unable to make a detailed immediate statement because of professional commitments.
The incident occurred amid heightened attention to public gatherings and security arrangements surrounding 15 August. In major urban centres such as Chattogram, meetings and commemorative programmes can attract increased scrutiny from law-enforcement authorities, particularly when police are assessing potential implications for public order.
For the arrested individuals, the immediate focus is now on the formal charges, the legal provisions invoked by police and the court’s decision after they are produced before a magistrate. Their families and fellow lawyers are also seeking clarity on the proceedings.
Once police formally disclose the case details and relevant legal sections, a clearer picture is expected to emerge regarding why the gathering was raided and on what grounds the 15 people were arrested.
