Unusual gatherings in Dhaka: What’s going on?

People from different parts of the country have been seen gathering in several areas of Dhaka, including Shahbagh. 

The gatherings started late Sunday night (November 24), and it appears they were brought to the capital with the promise of loans.

When reporters visited Shahbagh, they found that many people had arrived in buses and microbuses from other parts of the country. 

These individuals were spread out in different areas of Shahbagh and nearby spots. 

Even by Monday morning (November 25), more unfamiliar faces were seen arriving in buses, heading towards Shahbagh.

Talking to some of the people who had gathered, it was learned that they had been promised interest-free loans of 1 lakh taka (100,000 taka). 

They said they were brought to Dhaka by people they knew. But after arriving in the city, they could not find the people who had made these promises.

Some of the people, coming from places like Manikganj, explained that they weren’t told how much loan they would receive. 

They were simply asked to fill out a form before being brought to Dhaka. 

They were also given a token, which had the words “Ahimsa Ganabhutthan Bangladesh” (Non-Violent People’s Uprising Bangladesh) written on it. 

However, when asked if they were part of any political event or movement, they could not provide a clear answer.

The police have been urging the gathered people to return home. 

Law enforcement has also been monitoring the situation closely, to make sure no disturbances or unrest occur as a result of these strange gatherings. 

Authorities are taking steps to ensure the situation doesn’t escalate.