Questions raised over Awami League procession

The procession by the activities banned Awami League in Gulshan, Dhaka has prompted the government to reassess the situation. Questions have arisen over how the party’s leaders and activists managed to gather in the important area surrounded by the Prime Minister’s residence, embassies and diplomats’ residences. Discussions are also underway over possible failures in intelligence surveillance and law enforcement.

The issue of such activities by the activities banned Awami League and banned Chhatra League in different parts of Dhaka and the country was also discussed at a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee. However, BNP is not concerned about the sudden procession. Party leaders said that an organisation whose activities are banned cannot hold any programme publicly. If anyone wants to create instability in the country, the government’s law enforcement agencies will take necessary action and no concession will be given in this regard.

A leader who attended the meeting told Agamir Somoy that these issues were discussed at the Standing Committee meeting held at the political office of the party chairman in Gulshan, Dhaka on Saturday night. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting.

On Friday afternoon, leaders and activists of the Awami League brought out a sudden procession from in front of Bhola Mosque in Gulshan 1. Two cocktails were exploded when police moved to disperse them. Police also opened fire to bring the situation under control. Two people were arrested from the scene and five cocktails were recovered.

Questions have been raised over whether intelligence agencies had prior information about such a large gathering in a sensitive area like Gulshan. If they did, why was action not taken before the procession began? If they did not, where was the weakness in intelligence surveillance?

Another issue has also emerged. Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether new activities have begun within the party following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s announcement that she would return to the country from India in December and reports that Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Selim had been assigned responsibility as acting leader in her absence.

Although Sheikh Hasina has announced that she will return to Bangladesh from India next December, uncertainty remains over the matter. Several sources linked to the Awami League said the party’s leaders and activists would now attempt to organise secret processions and gatherings at regular intervals to keep the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s return alive. The Gulshan procession was part of that activity. Several mid level leaders of the activities banned party indicated that the scale of such programmes could increase further.

Questions over law enforcement failures: It has been learned that senior officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Police Headquarters held several meetings following Friday’s incident. They discussed the reasons behind the incident, the next course of action and the role of officials assigned to the area.

Questions have also arisen over the sincerity and accountability of the officials and police members responsible. Authorities are also investigating whether any anti-government group helped organise such a programme from behind the scenes.

An official present at one of the meetings, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Gulshan Police Station Officer in Charge Daud Hossain is being considered for withdrawal. However, he said that withdrawing only one officer would not conclude the investigation into the incident. The reasons behind the incident need to be identified. At the same time, it is necessary to investigate whether members of agencies other than DMP had any failures.

A senior Police Headquarters official told Agamir Somoy, “It will not work if decisions are made while sitting in the AC room. You have to go to the field and understand the language of the police members’ eyes. You have to give them courage.”

He further said, “Policymakers should understand that since August 5, it has not been a comfortable time. Police members performing their duties have still not regained their morale. For whom will they risk their lives? Have senior officials been able to reassure them in that way?”

Was there intelligence information: There is still no clear answer as to whether intelligence agencies had information about the gathering before the Gulshan incident.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md Akhtar Hossain told Agamir Somoy that a case had been filed over Friday’s incident naming 118 people. Another 80 to 100 unidentified people were also made accused. They were accused of involvement in anti-state activities including the explosion of cocktails.

Asked whether there had been a lack of intelligence information, he said, “It is not yet time to say anything about the failure. However, if there was any failure behind such an incident in an important area like Gulshan, it will be investigated. The investigation has already begun.”

Former Inspector General of Police Abdul Qayyum told Agamir Somoy, “Surveillance should be increased over police members working not only in Gulshan but across all units, districts and police stations in the country. In this regard, it is important for senior officials to go to the field and supervise. This will boost the morale of police members.”

He said, “We must remember that this is not the time to relax. Gulshan and Banani are extremely important areas from a security perspective. Various intelligence and law enforcement agencies regularly operate here. Even after that, how such a large gathering by the banned Awami League and the explosion of cocktails took place must be investigated.”

Direct allegations against the government: Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of the National Citizen Party’s northern region, criticised the government over the Awami League procession.

In a verified Facebook post, he wrote, “The fallen autocrat and banned Awami League can hold a procession because the Prime Minister and the Home Minister want it.”

Such statements by leaders of the NCP and other opposition parties have sparked fresh discussion in the political arena. They have also raised questions over the government’s willingness and firmness in controlling the law-and-order situation.

Journalists questioned BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi about the issue after the Standing Committee meeting on Saturday night.

A journalist asked about Jamaat e Islami’s allegation that the Awami League held the Gulshan procession in collusion with the BNP. In response, Rizvi said, “None of our national leaders said that the Awami League should be forgiven. The people of the country certainly have not forgotten who said that. So the people know who is colluding with whom. Therefore, there is no point in making such statements.”

He added, “Those who are illegal organisations and banned organisations have been banned by the court. Therefore, an organisation that is illegal cannot hold any programme publicly. The ministry concerned of the government, that is the Home Ministry, will look into this matter, identify who are involved in the procession and sudden procession and take action accordingly. The law enforcement agencies immediately played their role there and some arrests were also made.”