The 26 students, who were arrested today (October 24) in connection with a complaint filed following a protest at the Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday, are involved in the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, police said .

Those arrested were among the group of 56 students arrested for breaking into the secretariat during a protest demanding reassessment of HSC and equivalent exam results, which they described as “discriminatory”.

Of the detainees, 28 were released into the custody of their guardians and the remaining 26 were arrested in connection with a case filed against 60-70 unnamed people at Shahbagh police station, the Metropolitan Police said today of Dhaka (DMP) in a statement to the media.

“During preliminary interrogation, all the 26 arrested persons admitted to being involved in the banned organization Chhatra League,” the DMP said.

The DMP statement also said: “On Wednesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m., 60/70 anonymous youths, including those arrested, forcibly entered the Bangladesh Secretariat. They forced their way into the important state institution demanding the cancellation of the recently released HSC exam results and started creating chaos.

“Disobeying the police order, they obstructed government work and vandalized government buildings, causing damage amounting to Tk 3 lakh.”

According to the DMP, they were charged with unlawful assembly, unlawful assembly, and entering the secretariat, causing riots, causing injury, including obstructing government work, causing damage to government property, as well as intimidation and threats.

The DMP statement highlighted that a notice, signed by DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan on August 25, banned all kinds of meetings, gatherings, processions, rallies and demonstrations in the area around the secretariat and the official residence of the Chief Advisor (Jamuna) to the capital until further orders.

Later in the day, a Dhaka court sent all 26 arrested to jail. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Belal Hossain passed the order after the police produced them in court and pleaded to keep them behind bars until the investigation is completed, BSS reports.

The 26 were identified as Jahirul Islam, Md Foysal Hasan, Md Raihan Hossain, Md Rubel Ahammed, Md Riad Mahmud, Md Mesbaur Rahman Millat, Mehedi Hasan, Sohan (1), Imran Hossain Arman, Mehedi Hasan Ontor, Sagor, Rohan , Shahriar. Hossain, Ahad Mollah, Sohan (2), Masnun Hossain, Naim, Imam Hasan, Shakil, Selim, Saqlain Mostak, Hanjalal, Moshiur Rahman, Prantik, Tasin Rahman and Robin Miah.