Bangladesh’s Special Branch (SB) of police has warned that the banned political party Awami League may attempt to disrupt law and order across the country by launching online and offline propaganda campaigns.

In a circular issued on Monday (July 28), the Special Branch expressed concern that the party could exploit the ongoing observance of the anniversary of the historic July Uprising to destabilise the situation. 

It says that various opposition parties and anti-fascist civic groups have been holding programmes since July 1, and that the period between July 29 and August 8 has been marked as “particularly sensitive.”

The SB feared that pro-authoritarian elements—referred to in the notice as “expelled fascist forces”—could use this period to incite unrest nationwide, disrupt anti-fascist programmes, and spread disorder through coordinated campaigns both online and offline.

In response, the SB has issued a seven-point directive to all police units across the country, aimed at strengthening law enforcement during this 11-day window.

The directives include conducting special operations from July 29 to August 8; performing regular searches of suspicious motorcycles, microbuses, and other vehicles; ensuring heightened security in and around bus terminals, launch ghats, railway stations, and airports; carrying out operations to execute pending arrest warrants; intensifying mobile patrolling; enhancing cyber patrols to counter rumours and misinformation; and expanding intelligence-gathering activities nationwide.

The alert comes amid heightened political tension and ongoing anti-government mobilisations tied to the July Uprising anniversary.

SMS/