39 teens detained from a party on suspicion of Chhatra League ties

Police detained 39 teenagers on Wednesday night on suspicion of being members of the banned Chhatra League while attending a farewell party at the Ibrahim Convention Hall in Uttar Anandapur, Munshirhat Upazila in Feni.

The party was organized by Saimun Shah Patwari, son of Saudi expatriate Shahjalal, who is preparing to leave for Saudi Arabia on September 13. The gathering was intended as a send-off with friends.

According to local sources, a group led by Golam Rasul Majumdar Golap, senior joint convener of Fulgazi Upazila BNP, accused the teenagers of being Chhatra League activists and reported them to the police.

The detained youths, aged between 12 and 22, came from various areas including Feni Sadar, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya. Law enforcement officers arrived promptly and questioned the group throughout the night.

After extensive verification, the police released the teenagers to their families early Thursday morning.

Fulgazi Police Station’s acting officer-in-charge Mohammad Lutfor Rahman said no formal complaints were filed against the teens. He added many were involved in anti-discrimination student movements and that most of their families support BNP politics.

Golam Rasul Majumdar Golap stated that only one boy had previous links with Chhatra League politics, and denied any extortion claims or personal involvement in the detentions.