Political upheaval in Bangladesh has led to a challenging period for Sheikh Hasina’s party. Following protests against the government last year, the Awami League is in a precarious situation. The situation has deteriorated since August 5th of the previous year when a coup forced Sheikh Hasina to leave the country. The Awami League is now banned.
Despite the upcoming 2026 general elections, the Awami League continues to organize, including processions in Dhaka. An unsanctioned procession in the Shyamoli area on September 16th led to numerous arrests by the police. Many people have been detained during these Awami League events.
Official reports reveal that 44,472 individuals were arrested between August 5th of the previous year and September 3rd of the current year. This signifies an extensive crackdown, with over 44,000 Awami League workers arrested in just 13 months. A significant number of those arrested, 32,371, have been granted bail.
Police sources indicate the arrests relate to various cases, including involvement in anti-government demonstrations, participation in processions, and activities considered detrimental to the state following the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Some of the individuals arrested are party officials, while others are accused of being supporters of the Awami League or the government.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reports that 97 cases have been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act regarding unauthorized activities by the Awami League and its affiliated organizations. These cases led to 1,123 arrests, with 403 individuals already released on bail.
On September 24th, authorities were alerted to a planned Awami League march and responded by deploying police officers. A ‘flash march’ subsequently resulted in an additional 244 arrests.
The Chittagong range saw the highest number of arrests related to Awami League activities, with 7,823 arrests recorded over a 13-month period. Approximately 6,275 people (80%) were granted bail in Chittagong. Sylhet had the fewest arrests, with 1,398 arrests, and about 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 discuss the quick 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 will investigate the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail in anti-terrorism cases.