A former Kurigram district Awami League leader was arrested after allegedly attempting to escape from his home by jumping from the roof when police arrived to detain him in connection with two cases.
Minhazul Islam Ayub, former deputy publicity secretary of the Kurigram district Awami League and former president of the district Chhatra League, was injured during the attempted escape. He also previously served as acting chairman of the Kurigram District Council.
Police said Ayub was arrested in an injured condition and taken to Kurigram 250-bed General Hospital for treatment. He was receiving medical care there following the incident.
The incident took place at around 1.30am on Thursday in Sannyasi village under Holokhana Union of Kurigram Sadar upazila. Kurigram Sadar police later confirmed the arrest on Thursday afternoon.
According to police and local sources, arrest warrants had been issued against Ayub in two cases, including a case concerning the death of Ashiq during the July unrest. The cases are recorded as GR-319/24 (Kurigram) and GR-321/24 (Kurigram), according to the police.
Acting on confidential information that Ayub was staying at his home, a team from Kurigram Sadar Police went to the village during the early hours of Thursday. The officers surrounded the house and called out to those inside, but received no response.
Police said Ayub realised that officers had arrived and attempted to leave the house through the roof. While trying to descend from the rear of the building, he fell onto a tin fence and sustained injuries.
The fall left one of his toes cut and reportedly resulted in a fracture to his foot. Police subsequently recovered him from the spot and took him to hospital. He was formally shown as arrested while receiving treatment.
Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Sadar Police Station, said Ayub was wanted in the two cases and had been staying away from the authorities. He said police had gone to the house after receiving information about his whereabouts.
According to the officer, police repeatedly called out after arriving at the residence, but nobody responded from inside. Ayub then attempted to escape via the roof and was injured in the process.
The police operation was carried out in the early hours, when officers were acting on information about the accused person’s presence at his residence. Following his arrest, arrangements were made for him to receive medical treatment rather than being taken directly into custody elsewhere because of his injuries.
Police said Ayub will be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Kurigram after he receives the necessary treatment. The next steps in the cases will depend on the relevant judicial proceedings.
Ayub’s previous political positions include deputy publicity secretary of the Kurigram district Awami League and president of the district Chhatra League. His earlier role as acting chairman of the district council also placed him in a prominent position in local public and political affairs.
The allegations against him remain subject to the legal process, and the cases will proceed according to the decisions of the court.
