Announcement made over loudspeaker claims Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh in December
Collage: Agamir Somoy
An announcement claiming that Sheikh Hasina, president of the banned Awami League and fugitive former prime minister, would return to Bangladesh was made over a loudspeaker while traveling around in a battery-powered autorickshaw in Manda upazila of Naogaon. A video of the incident has spread on social media.
The announcement was made publicly on Thursday in Chhoto Mulluk village under Kalikapur Union of the upazila. A loudspeaker was attached to a battery-powered autorickshaw for the purpose.
The incident has sparked discussions and criticism among local residents. Leaders of the local Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have also questioned the police's role in maintaining law and order.
A video circulating on Facebook shows a young man making the announcement through a loudspeaker attached to a moving battery-powered autorickshaw. He begins by greeting the residents of Manda upazila with the Islamic greeting of peace. He also extends greetings to people of other religions and ethnic communities. The announcement then claims that Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh in December. People from all political parties and backgrounds are urged to welcome her. The announcement concludes with the slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.”
Fazle Rabbi, a coordinator who led the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Naogaon, said, “An announcement was made publicly over a loudspeaker in a crowded area during the daytime to bring killer Hasina back to the country. The fallen Awami League has shown this courage because police officers from the previous fascist government remain in important positions. The officer in charge of Manda Police Station cannot evade responsibility for this. If those involved in the incident are not arrested quickly, the officer in charge of Manda Police Station will no longer be qualified to remain in his position.”
Asked about the incident, Afzal Hossain, officer in charge of Manda Police Station, said a 14-year-old boy who was in the autorickshaw during the announcement had been detained for questioning. He added that an operation was underway to arrest Tipu, an Awami League leader identified as the main perpetrator of the incident.
