18 UP members detained for alleged "Secret Meeting" in Cox’s Bazar

Police in Cox’s Bazar detained 18 Union Parishad (UP) members early this morning after raiding a meeting at a resort in the city’s Hotel-Motel Zone. 

The members were accused of holding an unofficial, "secret" meeting.

The meeting was taking place in a hall on the fifth floor of the resort. According to those present, it had been organized by the local branch of the Bangladesh Union Members Organization. 

The topic of discussion was the “Role of Local Public Representatives in State Reform, Democracy, and Local Development.”

Around 70 people were attending when the police, along with members of an anti-discrimination student group, entered the room and detained 18 attendees. 

Faizul Azim Noman, the officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, explained that the raid was carried out based on information suggesting that Awami League-backed UP members were holding a secret meeting. 

He also mentioned that the identities of the detained members were being checked to confirm if any of them had outstanding charges.

One of the detained UP members, Zahir Ahmed from Teknaf Sadar Union, denied the claims, saying, “If it was a secret meeting, we wouldn’t have met in a public hotel. We’re just being harassed.” 

Mohammad Salim, another participant from Moheshkhali who was not detained, condemned the arrests, saying, “People from all political groups were there. I strongly protest the detention of my colleagues.”