Police Arrest 16 Chhatra League Activists, 8 are Minors
Collected Photo
Police arrested 16 activists of the banned Chhatra League in Laksam, Cumilla.
Laksam Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Kamrunnahar Laily confirmed the matter. She said that Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Sirajul Islam filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against the 16 members of the banned Chhatra League. The 16 individuals were sent to prison on Saturday.
According to police, eight of the arrested individuals are under the age of 18. These minors include Anas Al Maruf, 15, Shahadat Hossain Jihad, 14, Omar Faruque, 16, Sakib Hossain, 17, Raihan, 16, Md Noman, 16, Nahidul Islam Jihad, 16, and Towhidul Hassan, 17.
However, parents argued that many of the detained children were labourers or engaged in daily work with their families. They alleged that the police filed the cases without verifying their involvement in political activities.
Rokeya Begum, the mother of Jihad, claimed that her son works due to the family’s poverty. She stated that the police detained him while he was returning home from work and subsequently charged him under anti-terrorism laws.
Md Abdur Rashid, the grandfather of Maruf, noted that his grandson works in an organisation. He was arrested and sent to court under a political pretext.
Another guardian stated that their grandson, who has lost both parents, works in a garage and was apprehended by a group of people while at the market to buy shoes before being handed over to the police and charged.
Several parents claimed their children were detained while returning home after completing their work, alleging that cases were filed against them without any specific reason.