Police detained 19 Awami League-backed union parishioners from a late-night meeting in a hotel in Cox’s Bazar.

The UP members were detained while attending a meeting at the 5th floor ballroom of Uni Resort in Kalatali Hotel-Motel Zone in Cox’s Bazar around 12.30 pm today (November 9).

The inmates, among over a hundred union presidents and parishioners, attended a panel discussion on the role of public representatives in state reform at the ballroom of Uni Resort in Cox’s Bazar’s Kalatali Hotel-Motel Zone.

“UP members affiliated to the Awami League were detained from the meeting chaired by BNP leader and UP Palongkhali president M Gafur Uddin,” said Foyzul Azim Noman, officer-in-charge of Model Police Station Cox’s Bazar Sadar.

“Police conducted a check based on information that AL-affiliated UP members were holding a secret meeting at Uni Resort. Permission of the administration was not taken for the meeting,” he added.

The OC said that legal action has been taken against those who have cases against them and the rest have been released.

Jahir Ahmed, an inmate and member of Teknad Sadar union parish, said, “Around 70 of us were present in the meeting. We were discussing how we could help the country in times of crisis. The police suddenly entered the meeting and detained us.

“We wouldn’t have arranged a meeting in such a big, public place if it was a secret event. We are being harassed,” he added.

Selim, a UP member from Maheshkhali who was later released, also denounced the police action.

“We had a discussion meeting in the Members’ Association on Friday. People from all political parties were there. I strongly condemn the way our brothers were detained,” he said.