Police in Dhaka used batons, tear gas, and sound grenades to break up a procession organized by the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir in the capital’s Baitul Mukarram area on Friday. The procession, which took place after the Jummah prayers, was in defiance of a warning from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Members of Hizb ut-Tahrir chanted slogans, including “Khilafah, Khilafah,” as they marched from the south gate of Baitul Mukarram. The group moved through the area uninterrupted for about 15 minutes before police intervened near Paltan, dispersing the crowd with tear gas and sound grenades.
Despite being broken up, the group regrouped and attempted to resume their rally, but police once again dispersed them. During this second attempt, some supporters of the organization were seen throwing bricks and stones at the authorities.
The procession led to severe traffic congestion in the Paltan-Baitul Mukarram area, with long tailbacks disrupting the flow of traffic.
Earlier in the day, the police headquarters issued a statement reinforcing that Hizb ut-Tahrir is a banned organization, and any activities linked to the group, such as rallies or the distribution of propaganda, are illegal under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.
