Woman arrested for symbolic 'rice hotel' protest outside Secretariat

Police arrested Sohani Shifa, an activist of the 'Hawkers and Auto-rickshaws Removal' movement, during a symbolic protest outside the Secretariat in the capital on Sunday, July 5. She had set up a symbolic 'rice hotel' to demand that pavements and roads be kept clear for pedestrians.

According to sources, Sohani Shifa organised the programme as a protest against the occupation of roads and footpaths around Dhaka's metro stations. She set up a symbolic rice hotel outside the Secretariat, offering rice to poor and helpless people for Tk 10.

Police removed the rice hotel and arrested her. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. No official statement has been issued by police regarding the reason for the arrest.

Earlier, on Saturday, Sohani Shifa announced on social media that she would start the protest programme on Sunday.