Staff Reporter :
Leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies did not gather at Dhanmondi-32 to pay tribute to the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on his 50th death anniversary on Friday.
Many of the people, rallying under the Chhatra-Janata (students and public) banner, intercepted passersby and commuters, questioning them whenever they seemed suspicious.
In the morning, a woman arrived with flowers to offer her respects but was turned away by agitated onlookers.
Police cordoned off both ends of Mujib’s residence for security, and members of the public handed over five suspected Awami League activists to law enforcement.
Dhanmondi police officer-in-charge Ka Shai Nu Marma said they had taken comprehensive security measures to prevent any untoward incidents.
“Since Thursday evening, five suspected AL activists were brought to us by locals. Four were released after giving undertakings, while one remains in custody as he is accused in a case,” the OC stated.
Police identified the man still in custody as Zakir Hossain Babu, an AL activist from Bhola.
Tensions flared after Mujib’s grandson, Sajeeb Wajed Joy-also the son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina-released a video message on his verified Facebook account, calling on Awami League leaders and activists to defy the “illegal Yunus government” and pay tribute despite obstacles.
Mizanur Rahman, a private company employee, said he came to Dhanmondi-32 specifically to prevent AL activists from paying tribute.
“As Hasina killed thousands, how can Joy ask for such a thing?” he remarked.
This year’s commemoration took place under a drastically changed political climate. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian government on August 5 last year-toppled by a bloody student-mass uprising-the interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus suspended all political activities of the Awami League and its affiliates in May, pending trials of party leaders accused of mass killings during the July-August unrest.
The interim government also abolished the August 15 public holiday, which had been observed during the Awami League’s tenure.
