Jubo Dal Leader Allegedly Vanishes With Test Vehicle

A senior youth wing leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been accused of fraud and intimidation after allegedly taking a vehicle from a garage in Rajshahi under the pretext of a test drive and failing to return it for more than six weeks.

The accused, SM Sofiq Mahmud Tanmay, is a member of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal convening committee and currently serves as its acting office secretary. According to the complainant, garage owner Noor Ahmed, Tanmay exploited his political influence to retain possession of the vehicle and subsequently issued repeated threats when asked to return it.

The incident reportedly took place on 18 November at Noor Ahmed’s garage in the Bondhogate area of Rajshahi city. Noor Ahmed, who runs a vehicle repair workshop and is also engaged in the lawful buying and selling of cars, said Tanmay visited the garage expressing interest in purchasing a jeep. After negotiations, the price was agreed at Tk 600,000. Tanmay then requested to take the vehicle for a “trial”, assuring its prompt return.

However, the vehicle—registered as Dhaka Metro G-02-0870—was never brought back. Noor Ahmed stated that when he attempted to contact Tanmay roughly an hour and a half later, his calls went unanswered. Over the following days, Tanmay allegedly avoided communication, citing meetings and personal matters. At one point, he reportedly claimed to be at Evercare Hospital due to the BNP chairperson’s illness, promising to respond upon returning to Rajshahi.

According to Noor Ahmed, when contact was eventually re-established, Tanmay responded aggressively, warning him not to pursue the matter. He allegedly threatened that no police station would accept a case against him and issued explicit threats to Noor Ahmed’s life should he persist.

Failing to secure assistance from local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders, Noor Ahmed approached Rajpara Police Station on 14 December. He claims the officer-in-charge declined to register a case, citing the accused’s political influence, and advised him to seek legal recourse through the courts. Consequently, on 22 December, Noor Ahmed filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Rajshahi.

At a press conference held on Sunday afternoon at a city restaurant, Noor Ahmed presented documents supporting his ownership of the vehicle, including the purchase agreement and all relevant BRTA registration papers. He further alleged that Tanmay had previously been involved in a similar incident involving another individual’s vehicle, for which a separate case is reportedly ongoing.

Tanmay, however, has denied the allegations. In a brief response, he claimed the vehicle was already inoperative and asserted that Noor Ahmed had previously attempted to sell it to another buyer for Tk 300,000. He accused Noor Ahmed of defamation and stated that he intended to pursue legal action in response.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal’s acting convener, Shariful Islam Jony, said the organisation had learned of the allegations through the press conference. He reiterated that BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has issued clear instructions that any member involved in wrongdoing will face strict organisational action. He added that the matter would be formally reported to the central Jubo Dal leadership for further consideration.

Key Facts at a Glance

The case has sparked renewed debate in Rajshahi over the misuse of political influence and access to justice for small business owners, as legal proceedings and internal party responses continue to unfold.