On 26 September 2026, police detained 289 people during an operation at the headquarters of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) in Gulistan, Dhaka, after activists of Jubo Dal, the ruling BNP’s youth wing, alleged that members of the banned Awami League were holding a secret meeting there. Jasad, a former member of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, denied the allegation and said it was holding a scheduled central representatives’ meeting. The Business Standard reported the incident and Jasad’s prior notification to police.
Jasad had notified police on 24 September and sought security arrangements. The letter bears an official receiving signature, although formal approval has not been independently verified. Jasad also alleged that BNP and Jubo Dal activists entered its office and assaulted participants before police began detaining attendees.
Following identity checks, most detainees were released, while 27 were formally arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and sent to jail; their initial bail applications were rejected on 28 September. On 8 October, 24 of the 27 were released on bail; one other had also secured bail but faced a clerical delay, while hearings for the remaining two were scheduled for 11 October.
Human Rights Watch subsequently criticised the mass arrests, raising broader concerns about civil and political rights. The incident raises concerns regarding freedom of peaceful assembly and association, protected under Articles 37 and 38 of Bangladesh’s Constitution, and about the protection of peaceful political participation, procedural safeguards and potential chilling effects on opposition and smaller political groups.