Another Awami League Official Detained in Bangladesh amid Political Repression
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Synopsis
The ongoing political repression in Bangladesh deepens as another Awami League leader, M A Khalek, is arrested. This incident reflects the government's aggressive crackdown on dissent, targeting party members since the interim government's rise to power in August 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Another Awami League leader detained.
- Previous arrest related to July uprising.
- Brutal crackdown on political dissent ongoing.
- Violence against party members has escalated.
- Assurances of law and order by interim government contradicted by events.
Dhaka, April 5 (NationPress) In a further instance that underscores the ongoing repression of political dissent in Bangladesh, a prominent leader of the Awami League party, which is headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday.
The police confirmed the detention of M A Khalek, the Awami League's General Secretary for Meherpur district, who also previously served as the chairman of Gangni Upazila Parishad.
However, the authorities did not provide specific reasons for this arrest.
Khalek had previously been taken into custody by the Rapid Action Battalion in connection with the uprising that occurred last July. He was subsequently granted bail and had been residing at home after being stripped of all official roles following Hasina's removal, as reported by The Daily Star.
Since the interim administration took power in August 2024, there has been a severe crackdown on Awami League figures, with many being detained on dubious charges.
Last month, three Awami League officials, including a former parliamentarian from the Tangail-5 constituency, were arrested in relation to an alleged assault on the July anti-discrimination student movement in Bhatara, a locality in the capital.
Earlier this week, seven individuals were detained as they were suspected of being supporters of the Awami League and its affiliated groups after they organized a rally in support of the party's student faction, Chhatra League, in Sylhet.
Moreover, the residences of former Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury and former Member of Parliament Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel were attacked and vandalized by a mob associated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s Chhatra Dal.
Numerous Awami League leaders have faced brutal assaults and killings following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina.
Reports indicate that over two dozen Awami League leaders and their family members were found dead across the nation in August 2024. Many leaders and supporters of the Awami League have endured severe violence and mob attacks in recent months, despite the interim government and its Chief Advisor's assurances of maintaining law and order.
