An organisation called Ohingsho Gono Obhutthan Bangladesh (Nonviolent Mass Uprising Bangladesh) allegedly attempted to gather a large number of people at Shahbagh in the capital with promise to provide Tk 1 lakh loan to each participant.
The organisation claimed that they would bring back laundered money from abroad and distribute loans only to those who would took part in the programme.
According to the police and the people who arrived at Shahbagh, people from across the country began arriving in Dhaka by buses, pickups and microbuses since the early hours of Sunday night.
Severe traffic congestion was created in Shahbagh and TSC areas of Dhaka University on Monday morning.
However, police and students of Dhaka University then intervened to explain the situation and encouraged the crowd to return home. Gradually, the situation returned to normal.
Speaking with several individuals who came to Shahbagh, it was learnt that most of them were unaware of the exact purpose of gathering.
They mentioned that they were promised loans of Tk 1 lakh, which motivated them to come here. Some also said that they had paid a registration fee of Tk 1,000.
Regarding the matter, Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Khalid Mansur said that Ohingsho Gono Obhutthan Bangladesh sought permission to organise a large gathering at Shahbagh, but request was denied.
“They misled rural people into believing they would receive Tk1 lakh loans for attending the assembly. We did not allow them to gather,” the OC added.
Police have detained ABM Mustafa Amin, the convener of the Ohingsho Gono Obhutthan Bangladesh.
Shahbagh Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Khalid Mansur told The Bangladesh Post, “Several individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. We are currently verifying the details, and the case is under process.”
In Narayanganj, a group tried to gather at least 200 people in Dhaka by promising interest-free loans of TK 1 lakh each.
On Monday morning, Bandar police intercepted and detained four buses at the Madanpur bus stand.
The buses were transporting at least 200 people to Dhaka’s Raju Sculpture, part of a bigger plan to bring people from various parts of the country to the gathering.
Leaflets were distributed to mislead the attendees, mentioning interest-free loans.
Bandar Police Station’s OC, Tariqul Islam, said, “We detained four buses from Madanpur carrying around 200 individuals who were misled. They were told they would receive interest-free loans of Tk 1 lakh. We are investigating the matter and will share further details after the inquiry.”
Narayanganj District Detective Branch (DB) OC Wahiduzzaman said heightened surveillance and searches were conducted to ensure no disruptive activities were planned.
Leaflets from the organization Ohingsho Gono Obhutthan Bangladesh called for the gathering and highlighted the recovery of embezzled funds and interest-free loans for poverty alleviation. The pamphlets listed an address in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, and contact details for organisers.
Meanwhile, Narayanganj district police and the Detective Branch (DB) police have taken a strict stance by setting up check posts on the Narayanganj section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway following reports of attempts to destabilize the capital by calling for a rally.
The check post was set up on the signboard of the highway since Monday morning.
Various Dhaka-bound transports are being stopped at the check post and passengers are being searched. However, no one has been arrested so far.
While visited it was seen that a large number of members of the Narayanganj District Police, DB, Siddhirganj Police Station and Kanchpur Highway Police have been stationed at the signboard section since Monday morning.
Police members are stopping almost all Dhaka-bound transports and searching passengers. However, no traffic jam was seen anywhere on the highway.
When talking to a passenger of a Komol minibus named Shah Alam, he said “The administration got the idea that some group would try to create chaos in Dhaka. That is why they told us that they had set up this check post. They checked us and let us go, without wasting much time. We are satisfied with this.”
According to another passenger, this initiative of the law enforcement agencies is good to keep the country in good order.
The driver of a long-distance bus named Jatayat said, the highway is completely empty. The car was stopped for 10 minutes at the signboard section and the passengers were searched. The police mainly questioned those who were suspicious.
In this regard, Shimrail Highway Police Camp in-charge Abu Nayem, said, “our patrol team is on the highway. There is no traffic jam, security arrangements have been strengthened.”
Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Al Mamun said, “We have information that a group is planning to bring people from different rural areas to create chaos in Dhaka. That is why we are on alert. Check posts are being set up and suspects are being searched. However, no one has been arrested so far.”
In Laxmipur, three large passenger buses and four microbus, carrying around 300 people, were seized by police and army personnel on Sunday night in Kamalnagar upazila while preparing to head towards Dhaka to join a rally.
Sensing the incident at night, local residents surrounded them as they boarded the seven vehicles and informed the police and army.
Later from the scene, 85 people were taken to three police stations for quizzing. Among them, 28 are at Laxmipur Sadar Police Station, 46 at Ramgati Police Station, and 11 at Kamalnagar Police Station.
Talking to the police and bus passengers, it was learned that a group of people encouraged them to join the rally at Shahbagh or Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka Monday. The group took Tk 1,000 from each person for applying for a loan and attending the conference. Tokens were given to those seeking loans and attending the conference. All token holders were also informed that the interim government’s chief advisor, Dr Muhammad Yunus, would provide interest-free loans ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 1 crore.
One of the Dhaka Express bus drivers, Md Sohel, said two people—Alamgir and Siraj—booked these buses. But when local residents surrounded the vehicles, both fled the scene.
Parul Akhter, a housewife from Char Lorench village in Laxmipur, said, “First, they had to take tokens for Tk 10. Then, two people took Tk 1,000 from them for travel expenses. The two introduced themselves as loan officers. They were supposed to be given loans of Tk 1 lakh the day after they joined the rally in Dhaka.”
Laxmipur Police Superintendent Md Akhtar Hossain said that 85 people have been brought to the police station for questioning. They tried to take them to Dhaka by promising to give them loans. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the main perpetrators of deceiving the villagers and taking them to Dhaka.
“They were being gathered to hold a rally in Dhaka by an organisation called Ohingsho Gono Obhutthan Bangladesh. It is believed that this was done mainly to embarrass the government in the name of the rally in Dhaka” he added.
