Police arrested 19 members of various Union Parishads (UP) of the district from a residential hotel in Cox's Bazar city on the charge of secret meeting. They were arrested from the 5th floor hall room of Kalatali Uni Resort in Cox's Bazar on Friday.

The arrested persons were holding a discussion meeting of the Members Association, an organization consisting of UP members of 9 upazilas of the district. Meanwhile, the police and more than half a hundred coordinators surrounded their hall room. After that, the police and coordinator identity holders came and started searching and checking.

According to the police, pro-Awami UP members were holding secret meetings and were arrested on the basis of this information. There were 70 UP members in that meeting. The police could not clarify the reason behind the release.

Meanwhile, surrounding the hotel caused panic in the area around the hotel. Tourists staying at the hotel are seen leaving the hotel.

However, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Faizul Azim Noman said that the operation was conducted based on the information that UP members supported by Awami League were holding a secret meeting at Uni Resort. There are many UP members here. Those who have a case against them, will be detained and those who don't have a case against them have been released.

The police officer did not answer the question why there were more than half a hundred people identified as coordinators in the police operation.

Zaheer Ahmed, UP member of Teknaf Sadar Union Parishad who was detained, said that today there was a discussion meeting of the members association of UP members of the district. About 70 of us UP members were present. How to work there in the fatigue of the country. It was being discussed. Suddenly the police and the coordinator came in and arrested us by abusing us in vulgar language. If we had a secret meeting, it would not have been such a big event at a roadside hotel. We are being harassed.

Salim, a UP member of Maheshkhali area, who was released from the police, said that today we had a discussion meeting of our members' association. People from all political parties were also there. But this is how our brothers have been detained, strongly condemn it.