United News of Bangladesh

A former president of Companiganj upazila unit of the BNP, who had been suspended from the party over his alleged involvement in the ‘Sada Pathor’ looting incident, was arrested in Sylhet city on Saturday night. The arrestee was identified as Sahab Uddin, former president of the Companiganj BNP. According to a media release issued by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-9, Sahab Uddin is one of the prime accused in the looting of stones from the Sada Pathor area in Companiganj and Gowainghat upazilas earlier this year. Teacher arrested after two madrasa students beaten, case filed A case was filed against him with Companiganj Police Station on 15 August. Acting on a tip-off, a Rab-9 team conducted a drive in the city’s Kumarpara area around 11:00pm and arrested him. He was later handed over to Kotwali Police Station, the release added. Sahab Uddin faces seven cases filed with Companiganj and Kotwali police stations. On 11 August, a BNP statement signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced his suspension from the party.

In a surprising twist, a former BNP leader accused in a domestic violence case managed to escape police custody -- still in handcuffs -- after a group of his ‘relatives’ allegedly attacked law enforcers in Fulgazi upazila of Feni on Tuesday night. The fugitive, identified as Kabir Ahmed Chowdhury alias Jal Kabir, previously served as the organisational secretary of ward No-4 BNP unit in Amzadhat Union. According to police sources, a team from Chhagalnaiya Police Station had gone to Amzadhat area to arrest Kabir in connection with a domestic violence case. The arrest initially went as planned, but chaos soon followed. Ex-Feni MPs Masud, Nizam Hazari among 251 sued “As soon as Kabir was taken into custody, a group of his cohorts launched a sudden and violent attack on the police team,” said Md Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Chhagalnaiya Police Station. During the altercation, sub-inspector (SI) Rafid, assistant SI Didar, and constable Sumon sustained injuries. Amid the confusion, Kabir managed to flee the scene, still wearing handcuffs. Police have since detained six people suspected for their ‘involvement in the attack and aiding the escape’. Meanwhile, local BNP leaders distanced themselves from Kabir. Fulgazi BNP convener Fakhrul Alam said Kabir had been served a show-cause notice in October last year for violating party discipline. “As his response was deemed unsatisfactory, his position was stayed,” Alam said. Police said legal proceedings are underway regarding both the attack on police personnel and Kabir’s escape.