Police in Kishoreganj have arrested Anwar Kamal, a former publicity secretary of the district Awami League, along with another person after a protest procession was held to mark the anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack.
The two were produced before a court on Saturday (22 August). The judge rejected their bail petitions and ordered that they be sent to Kishoreganj District Jail.
According to party and local sources, the procession was organised under the banner of the Kishoreganj district unit of the Awami Swechchhasebak League to protest the grenade attack of 21 August 2004. The procession moved through several streets of Kishoreganj town.
The rally was led by Ariful Islam Arif, a former general secretary of the Kishoreganj Sadar upazila unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and a senior leader of the district Swechchhasebak League.
Following the procession, law enforcement officers conducted an operation in the area and arrested Anwar Kamal and another individual. The detainees were subsequently taken through the legal process and produced before the court.
The identity of the second person arrested has not been confirmed. However, the administration said he was an active supporter of the Awami League.
The officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station said the procession had been organised by members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations as part of programmes marking 21 August. According to the officer, participants recorded the procession and later shared footage on social media.
Police launched the operation after receiving information about the procession and reviewing the footage posted online. Officers are now examining the videos to identify other participants, including activists and leaders associated with the Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Chhatra League.
The police officer said those identified from the footage would also be arrested as part of the ongoing legal action.
The 21 August grenade attack remains one of the most significant episodes of political violence in Bangladesh’s recent history. On 21 August 2004, grenades were thrown at an Awami League rally in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue, killing several people and injuring many others. Among those killed was Ivy Rahman, then president of the Bangladesh Mahila Awami League. Sheikh Hasina, who was then Leader of the Opposition, was also injured in the attack.
The anniversary has traditionally been marked by the Awami League and its affiliated organisations through protest rallies and other programmes. The procession in Kishoreganj was organised in that context, according to local and party sources.
The latest arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of political activities involving Awami League leaders and activists. Police in Kishoreganj are continuing to examine the available video footage to determine whether further participants can be identified and brought under legal action.
