Police detained 45 activists of the banned student organisation, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), after they brought out a procession on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Cumilla this afternoon.

Md Rakibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Police Station, confirmed the development to this correspondent.

Eyewitnesses said a large number of Chhatra League activists gathered in the Matiara area around 2:30pm and brought out a flash procession. The Cumilla district (south) unit of BCL allegedly organised the event, they said.

As news of the procession spread, activists of Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal chased the participants and caught several of them, the witnesses added.

Speaking to reporters, Kazi Zubayer Alam Zilani, president of Cumilla district (south) unit of Chhatra Dal, said, “If anyone attempts to create public inconvenience in the name of a procession, we will resist it firmly.”

OC Rakibul said that on information, a team of police reached the scene and dispersed the BCL activists. They also detained a total of 45 people after conducting searches in nearby areas.

He said three microbuses and two buses were seized from the spot. Legal action against the detainees is underway.