The arrestees, most of who are students of Dhaka University and North south University, were holding a secret meeting at a house on the third floor of a five-storied building at Aziz Mohalla in the area.

Raiding the meeting venue, the law enforcers also seized a huge quantity of party leaflets, posters, compact disks (CDs) and party books.

Some of the posters read: "Awami League and BNP alliances' sycophancy to the United States and India is responsible for the present situation of the country.

Police filed a case against the arrestees for holding a meeting violating Emergency Power Rules.

The arrestees told The Daily Star they are the cultural wing members of Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh and met one of their fellow members at the house to chalk out a programme ahead of Eid-e-miladunnabi.

Guardians of at least five arrestees told The Daily Star at Mohammadpur Police Station that they were not aware of their sons' involvement with the party until they were arrested.

Police said the arrested members of the organisation used to hold secret meetings at Baitul Mokarram Mosque Fridays and distribute party leaflets.