Journalist leader Abu Jafar Surjo detained from JSD office

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has detained former president of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Abu Jafar Surjo, along with more than fifty others from the main office of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at the GPO intersection in Gulistan of the capital.

They were detained around noon on Saturday, September 26, and taken to Palton Police Station.

According to police, the operation was conducted after receiving information about the presence of activists of the banned Awami League at the JSD office, along with a meeting and slogans there. DMP Media and Public Relations Division Deputy Commissioner Md Aktar Hossain said the detainees have been taken to Palton Police Station for preliminary questioning and identity verification. The next step will be taken based on the investigation.

Police said the identities and links of the detainees in this incident are being verified. Although police first said 30 to 40 people were taken to the police station from the JSD office, DMP later said more than fifty people had been taken into custody. Police also said the operation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Abu Jafar Surjo, posting a picture of himself in handcuffs on his Facebook account, claimed that while performing professional duties at the JSD's representative meeting, he and several others were detained by police. He said he was later kept at Palton Police Station.

Police said the next steps regarding the detainees will be taken as per law after questioning and identity verification. However, Abu Jafar Surjo has described himself as a journalist performing professional duties at the JSD's representative meeting. Both his statement and the police's allegation will be verified through investigation.