The political landscape in Bangladesh has been significantly altered, with Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, experiencing a severe setback following widespread anti-government protests last year. The situation has been particularly challenging since the events of August 5th of the previous year, when a coup led to Sheikh Hasina’s departure from the country. The Awami League is currently banned.
Despite the upcoming general elections scheduled for 2026, the Awami League continues to organize and has been holding processions in Dhaka. A recent unauthorized procession in the Shyamoli area on September 16th resulted in police detentions. Numerous arrests have been made during the Awami League’s demonstrations.
Official police data reveals that from August 5th of the previous year to September 3rd of the current year, 44,472 individuals were arrested. This represents a significant crackdown, with over 44,000 Awami League workers being detained within the 13-month period. A substantial portion of those arrested, 32,371, have since been released on bail.
Police sources indicated that the arrests relate to involvement in various incidents, including anti-government protests, processions, and activities considered detrimental to the state following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Some of those arrested are party officials, while others are alleged to be supporters of the Awami League or the government at the time.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reports that 97 cases were filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with unauthorized activities conducted by the Awami League and its affiliated organizations. A total of 1,123 arrests were made in these cases, with 403 individuals already granted bail.
On September 24th, police were alerted to preparations for another Awami League march, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. The police took positions in various locations, and during the subsequent ‘flash march,’ 244 arrests were made.
The Chittagong range recorded the highest number of arrests related to Awami League activities, with 7,823 arrests over the 13-month period. Approximately 6,275 people (80%) were granted bail in Chittagong. The Sylhet range had the fewest arrests, with 1,398 arrests, and approximately 1,174 (84%) of those arrested were granted bail.
Arrests and Bail Statistics by Division:
Dhaka: 7,355 arrests, 4,806 (65%) granted bail
Rajshahi: 5,018 arrests, 4,221 (84%) granted bail
Khulna: 5,992 arrests, 4,554 (76%) granted bail
Barisal: 1,776 arrests, 1,555 (88%) granted bail
Rangpur: 3,891 arrests, 2,714 (70%) granted bail
Mymensingh: 3,036 arrests, 1,443 (48%) granted bail
A meeting was held to address the rapid granting of bail. A four-member committee, chaired by a joint secretary from the Home Ministry, was established on September 14th to monitor the bail process. The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Law, the Attorney General’s office, and the police. The committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail in anti-terrorism cases.