A youth has been detained with a pistol near Shahbagh protest site, where demonstrators are demanding arrest and swift trial of the killers of Inqilab Moncho leader Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi.

However, his identity has not yet been confirmed.

Shahbagh Police confirmed on Monday evening (29 December) that some protesters brought the individual to the police station, noting that he was carrying an object resembling a firearm.

However, authorities have not clarified whether the detention is connected to the ongoing protest or the blockade activities.
The protests were staged by Inqilab Moncho, which had called for a continuous blockade starting Saturday night.
According to the announced plan, protesters were to gather under the July pillar in Shahbagh at 2:00pm on Sunday, but demonstrators began assembling as early as 11:00am along adjacent streets, chanting slogans and voicing their demands. The protests continued on Monday.

The Shahbagh area has been alive with chants such as “Naraye Takbir, Allahu Akbar,” “Aposh na songram, Songram, songram,” “We Want Justice,” “Dhaka na Delhi, Dhaka Dhaka,” “Golami na azadi, Azadi, azadi,” etc.

For security reasons, law enforcement agencies including police and BGB personnel were deployed throughout Shahbagh to monitor the situation.