Police Detain 19 UP Members From Cox’s Bazar Hotel Meeting

Police have detained 19 union council (UP) members from various unions in Cox's Bazar district from a residential hotel called Uni Resort in Cox's Bazar city.

The arrests took place yesterday, Friday (November 8), from the 5th-floor hall room of Uni Resort in the Kalatoli area of Cox's Bazar city.

The detained individuals were attending a discussion meeting of the Members Association, a group of UP members from nine upazilas in the district. During the meeting, police and over fifty coordinators surrounded the hall room. The police, along with the coordinators, entered and began a search and verification process.

Police reported that the UP members, who are supporters of the ruling party, the Awami League, were holding a secret meeting. Based on this information, the police conducted a raid and detained them. A total of 70 UP members were present at the meeting, but the police have not clarified why only some were detained while others were released.

The police operation created a sense of fear in the surrounding area, and tourists staying at the hotel were seen leaving due to the situation.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, Faizul Azim Noman, stated that the operation was conducted based on information that Awami League-supported UP members were holding a secret meeting at Uni Resort. According to him, those with pending cases were detained, while others without cases were released.

Zahir Ahmed, a detained UP member from Teknaf Sadar Union Council, said, "Today we were holding a discussion meeting of the Members Association, attended by about 70 UP members. We were discussing how to work effectively during the country's critical times. Suddenly, police and coordinators entered and detained us, using obscene language. If this were a secret meeting, we wouldn’t have held such a big event in a hotel beside the main road. This is harassment."

Selim, a UP member from Maheshkhali who was released, mentioned, "Today, our Members Association held a discussion meeting, where people from all political backgrounds were present. The way our fellow members were detained is condemnable."