In a fresh wave of political repression, five Awami League activists were arrested on Friday afternoon in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka while preparing to stage a flash procession.
The arrests come amid a harsh crackdown by the interim Yunus regime, which has already banned political activities of Awami League and routinely silenced dissent under sweeping anti-terror powers.
The arrested are Junaid Sardar, Md. Shoyon, Shihab, Sourav, and Faisal, according to police statements. Two were picked up by a team from Mohammadpur Police at the Rapa Plaza Shopping Complex, and the other three by Dhanmondi Police near Saifur’s Coaching Centre.
The arrests occurred as about 35–40 people were gathering for the movement. At roughly 1:30 pm, police moved in, chased down individuals, and detained them on the spot. Legal proceedings are reportedly underway.
According to DMP’s Additional Deputy Commissioner for Tejgaon zone, Jewel Rana, the two from Mohammadpur were detained while preparing the procession. DMP Assistant Commissioner for Dhanmondi zone, Mostafa Tariquzzaman, confirmed that the student wing of the banned Awami League was planning to assemble in front of the coaching centre when police intervened.
Political Repression Under the Guise of Order
Since May 2025, the interim government has officially banned all Awami League activities under amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act. The ban prohibits meetings, publications, and even online expressions supporting the party.
Rights groups have described it as a draconian tool uniquely designed to target peaceful political mobilization. Thousands of activists have been arrested, many on dubious charges. Some detainees allege mistreatment, including denial of medical care.
This Friday’s arrests are not isolated. In the days prior, several AL leaders and activists were also rounded up across Dhaka for alleged roles in flash protests. The pattern suggests systematic suppression of opposition voices rather than enforcement of law and order.
The term “flash procession” — a short, surprise rally — has become synonymous with political dissent under the Yunus regime. Yet the regime treats these acts as criminal disturbances, issuing swift arrests to stifle even symbolic protests.
The High Stakes for Awami League
Awami League, once the country’s ruling party, has now been stripped of most political means of operation. Since its ban, the party’s capacity for organization, communication, and public outreach has been severely curtailed. Many of its leaders are in hiding, imprisoned, or subject to travel restrictions.
The party’s ban also came alongside a broader purge: media crackdowns, intimidation of journalists, and revocation of press credentials for critical voices. These moves consolidate the interim regime’s narrative control while isolating AL from public discourse.
For the activists arrested in Dhanmondi, the stakes are personal and political. They risk long detentions, trumped-up charges, and harsh treatment in custody. Their real crime, the regime sees, is political loyalty to the Awami League.
International Eyes Watching
Human Rights Watch, in recent reports, has warned that the Yunus government is repeating the same authoritarian behavior Bangladeshis supposedly rebelled against under Sheikh Hasina. They call on UN human rights mechanisms to intervene and demand release of arbitrarily detained individuals.
Observers note the irony: the regime claims to be building a democratic transition, yet is crushing the primary party that actually commands mass support. The question now is not whether peaceful opposition will survive, but whether the political space will even exist.
