Swechasebak League leader leads Shariatpur rally, 2 held

A procession and brief street rally were held in Shariatpur on Thursday evening (August 13) under the leadership of a central leader of the banned Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League, with police later detaining two people in connection with the programme.

The procession took place at Ganganagar Bazar in Shariatpur Sadar upazila. Local sources said several hundred leaders, activists and supporters joined the event.

Police and eyewitnesses identified the procession’s leader as Mithun Dhali, joint general secretary of the Dhaka North unit of the now-banned Swechhasebak League.

Participants reportedly chanted slogans marking August 15, observed in previous years as National Mourning Day, and carried both the national flag and the Awami League’s party flag.

Videos circulating on social media showed participants marching through Ganganagar Bazar behind a banner reading, “15 August National Mourning Day 2026—Strength from Mourning, Awakening from Mourning.” A brief street rally was later held on the Ganganagar-Kazirhat road, where Mithun Dhali addressed the gathering.

Shah Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Palong Model Police Station, said, "Police were deployed after receiving information about the programme. The participants dispersed after noticing the police presence."

Police later conducted an operation and detained two people. Legal proceedings are being prepared against those detained, while an investigation is underway to identify others involved in the gathering, the OC said.