Leaders and activists of the Awami League, the activities of which are now banned, hoisted the national and party flags at the district Awami League office in Naogaon early Thursday.

A video of the flag-hoisting was posted on Facebook at about noon by Shafiqul Rahman, former science and technology affairs secretary of the district AL.

The footage shows six to seven leaders and activists, led by Shafiqul, hoisting the national and party flags in front of the office at Sarishahati crossing in Naogaon town while chanting slogans such as ‘Joy Bangla’ and ‘Joy Bangabandhu’.

Traders in the adjacent area said that when they opened their shops at about 9:30am, they saw the national and party flags already mounted on stands in front of the office.

On information, the police later removed the flags from the site at noon, they said.

Naogaon district Bangladesh Nationalist Party general secretary Mamunur Rahman said that some activists of the AL and Chhatra League, which is banned, had carried out activities at the office of the party.

‘We strongly protest such activities by a banned party. The BNP will resist them with the people,’ he said.

Niamul Haque, officer-in-charge of the Naogaon Sadar police station, said that the police visited the spot after seeing the video circulating on social media.

‘The flags were possibly hoisted early in the morning. We are working to identify those involved and legal steps will be taken against the persons involved,’ he added.