Police yesterday foiled a mobilisation attempt of 'Blue Band Call', a Facebook-based platform of youths launched by former lawmaker Mahi B Chowdhury, in the city's Dhanmondi area for not securing prior permission.
Seven youths were picked up by the law enforcers from Rabindra Sarobar around 12:00 noon and New Market area after the participants locked in a scuffle with police following arguments. The youth picked up from New Market area was released.
Mahi B Chowdhury, also joint secretary general of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, told The Daily Star that their slogan is for political consensus or retirement (of political leaders).
They did not defy rules as they booked the venue around a month back for January 27 and 28 against Tk 45,000 and the Sarobar authorities informed police of the matter, he said.
The Blue Band Call wants change in the present political trend, which they say, is not correct, police said quoting the arrestees.
Asked about the detention, Md Muniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station, said three of the arrestees are students of different college and private universities while the others are engaged in business. They are residents of different areas of the capital.
Police dispersed the gathering youths from different institutions as the group did not receive permission from the authorities or police for holding the programme, he said.
When police asked them to leave the venue, since they had not received permission, an altercation took place between them and the police. Subsequently, the participants locked in a scuffle with police and police picked them up to maintain law and order,” the OC said.
Mahi was not present on the spot.
However, Mahi told The Daily Star that he along with over 100 members was staging a sit-in programme in Dhanmondi Police Station compound demanding release of their detained members. While filing this report at around 10:45pm, the sit-in programme was going on.