Police in Kushtia’s Mirpur detained eight people, including a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, after they allegedly went to a police station to seek the release of a Krishak League leader arrested in a sabotage case.
The eight were detained at Mirpur Police Station at around 2am on Saturday (26 September), following the arrest of Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, president of the Chithalia Union Krishak League, in connection with the case. The eight were later released after providing written undertakings, according to police.
Those detained were Sirajul Islam, 45, secretary of the Jamaat’s Ward No. 4 unit in Chithalia Union; Jamaat supporters Maruf, 21, Bashar, 35, Mofizul Pramanik, 40, Jahangir Hossain, 40, and Badal Pramanik, 50; BNP activist Meherul Islam, 45; and BNP supporter Shahidul Islam, 53.
According to Mirpur police, officers conducted an operation in the Chithalia area at around 12.30am on Saturday and arrested Hafizur Rahman in connection with a sabotage case. He was subsequently taken to Mirpur Police Station for further legal proceedings.
News of his arrest reportedly spread through the area, and at around 2am Sirajul Islam and several others went to the police station. Police said they sought Hafizur’s release and repeatedly attempted to persuade officers to let him go.
The situation eventually led to the detention of the group inside the police station.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said the individuals continued to request the release of the accused despite being asked to stop intervening in the matter. They were detained after repeatedly pressing police to release the accused in the sabotage case.
The officer said senior police officials were subsequently consulted. The eight people were then released after police obtained written undertakings from them and handed them over to leaders of their respective political groups, according to the officer.
Police have not said that the eight face a separate criminal case in connection with their detention. Their detention, according to the police account, followed their repeated attempts to intervene in the release of a person arrested in an existing case.
The incident occurred shortly after Hafizur’s arrest, meaning the police station became the focus of activity involving people associated with different political groups. Police intervened when the group continued its efforts to secure the accused man’s release.
The case against Hafizur remains separate from the detention of the eight people. The available information does not provide further details about the allegations in the sabotage case or the evidence cited against him.
For the eight people detained at the police station, the immediate legal process ended with their release on written undertakings. The police statement indicates that their release followed discussions with senior officials and arrangements involving representatives of their respective political groups.
The incident has drawn attention to the conduct of political supporters at police stations, particularly when attempting to intervene in an ongoing criminal case. Police stations are responsible for processing arrests and cases according to established legal procedures, while decisions concerning accused persons are subject to the applicable legal process.
Following the release of the eight, police said the situation at the station and in the surrounding area remained under control.
