Police in Bogura have arrested Shapla Begum, a notorious narcotics dealer named in 16 criminal cases, during a raid on Monday morning. Shapla, 45, is the adoptive mother of Siam Shuvo, who was recognised as the first martyr of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bogura after being killed during the July 2024 uprising.
Acting on a confidential tip-off regarding ongoing drug trafficking, a team from Bogura Sadar Police Station launched a targeted operation in the Chak Sutrapur Haddipatti bus stand area of the city. Officers intercepted Shapla at the scene and recovered 50 pieces of Tapentadol tablets alongside 30 grams of heroin from her possession. Following the seizure, law enforcement authorities placed her under arrest and transported her to the local police station for formal processing.
Shapla Begum, wife of Mohammad Ashik, resides in the Chak Sutrapur Haddipatti neighbourhood of Bogura city. Local residents and law enforcement officials identify her as a habitual offender who has long controlled illegal narcotics distribution across the area. She previously served multiple prison sentences after being apprehended with illicit drugs on numerous occasions.
Her profile gained widespread public attention following the events of 19 July 2024, when her teenage adopted son, Siam Shuvo, died after being struck by gunfire from law enforcement forces near the Seujgari Amtala intersection. Shuvo had reportedly gone to the location to witness the student-led protests. His death marked a pivotal moment in the local demonstrations, securing his official recognition as the first martyr of the July student movement in Bogura district.
Despite her son’s heroic standing in the community, which led local residents to accord her a degree of deference, Shapla continued her involvement in organised crime. Local sources report that she leveraged her social standing as a martyr’s mother to shield her unlawful narcotics operations from scrutiny.
Her criminal record extends beyond drug offences into violent confrontation with law enforcement. In August 2024, the Detective Branch (DB) of police conducted a raid in the Chak Sutrapur area to arrest an accused individual named Roni, who was wanted in connection with a theft case filed at Shahjahanpur Police Station. During that operation, a group of miscreants led by Shapla and her husband Ashik attacked the police team with iron rods, sticks, and sharp weapons. Three police officers sustained injuries in the violent altercation. Although police arrested Shapla at the scene of the attack, she subsequently secured bail from the court and returned to her criminal activities.
Following her arrest on Monday, officers initiated fresh criminal proceedings against Shapla Begum under the Narcotics Control Act. Commenting on the incident, Ibrahim Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Bogura Sadar Police Station, stated that her persistent illicit activities had created significant disruption in the locality. The police produced her before a Bogura court, which formally ordered her remand to judicial custody.
