March 21, 2005.

37 UPDF members arrested, released after interrogation

On the night of 15 March 2005 police arrested 37 members of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and its front organisaitons from a community centre at Sholashahar area in Chittagong. They were released the following day after interrogation.

UPDF rented "Biye Bari" community centre for five days from 13 - 17 March for the purpose of accommodation of the participants to the meetings and training workshops it has organised.

At about half past midnight the police entered the house and searched the rooms before taking them away to the Panchlaish police station. The police also searched their bags but found nothing incriminating. They were released at 10:30 p.m. the following day, after 20 hours of the arrest.

The mass arrest of the UPDF members created a lot of sensation in the media circle in Chittagong. Since the morning, reporters from national and local newspapers and private television crews crowded the police station for gathering information.

Prepared by Human Rights Monitoring Cell of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). March 21, 2005.