Hizb ut-Tahrir brings out processions in Dhaka

Banned militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir once again made its presence felt ahead of the national election with its leaders and activists bringing out processions in at least three key points in the capital yesterday afternoon.

All wearing similar orange T-shirts and carrying party flag and banners, they brought out processions in Shahbagh, Dhanmondi and Motijheel areas, witnesses said.

They chanted slogans and handed out leaflets to pedestrians, creating panic among people, witnesses also said.

Police, however, said they were unaware of such processions.

A video clip, circulated on the social media, shows 15 to 20 youths marching towards Paribagh area from Shahbagh around 4:00pm.

Contacted, Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, said they sent a police team upon receiving information on a procession, but did not find anything.

Dressed in identical clothes, around 30 to 40 Hizb ut-Tahrir men marched towards Shapla Chattar from near Mohammedan Sporting Club around 4:30pm, a private service holder Mithu Ahemd told The Daily Star. 

Within a couple of minutes, they were nowhere to be found, he said. 

Omar Faroque, officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station, said the claim of procession in the area was only a rumour as no such incident took place there.

A similar procession was brought out in Dhanmondi near Road 15 around 5:00pm.

In November 2009, the government banned Hizb ut-Tahrir for their anti-state, anti-government, anti-people and anti-democratic activities in the country.