Three individuals, including a petrol station manager, have been detained in Chapainawabganj following the physical assault of a police constable at a facility owned by a prominent local politician. The incident transpired on Sunday, 26 April 2026, at the Raihan Filling Station, situated in the Khoyrabad area of Rohanpur Municipality within the Gomostapur Upazila.
The victim has been identified as Police Constable Shawkat Ali, who serves as the designated driver for the Nachol Police Station. The officer was reportedly targeted while performing a routine task to procure lubricants for an official law enforcement vehicle.
Origin of the Altercation
According to official police records, Constable Shawkat Ali arrived at the Raihan Filling Station during the afternoon to collect engine oil. He had presented the necessary official requisition slip and was waiting near the cash counter for the procurement process to be finalised. Although on duty, the constable was dressed in civilian attire at the time of the encounter.
The filling station is owned by Ashraf Hossain Alim, the former Chairman of Gomostapur Upazila Parishad and a senior figure within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The confrontation reportedly began when Abdullah Al Raihan—Alim’s younger son and the current President of the Gomostapur Union BNP—directed verbal abuse toward the waiting constable.
When Constable Ali objected to the misconduct, the situation turned violent. Eye-witness accounts suggest that Raihan physically attacked the officer, delivering several slaps and striking him with a stick. Witnesses also alleged that the management of this specific petrol station has a history of aggressive behaviour toward customers who protest their service standards.
Clinical Status and Institutional Silence
Following the assault, Constable Shawkat Ali was moved to the Gomostapur Upazila Health Complex for urgent medical evaluation. Dr Shahidul Islam, the Residential Medical Officer at the complex, confirmed that the officer was admitted with multiple visible injuries.
“The injured police member was brought to the hospital in the afternoon. We have administered the required medical treatment, and he remains under clinical observation for the time being,” Dr Islam stated.
Attempts by the media and authorities to obtain a statement from the Raihan Filling Station management were unsuccessful. Despite repeated telephone calls, representatives of the establishment have declined to comment on the assault or the subsequent arrests.
Law Enforcement Action and Legal Context
Nure Alam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gomostapur Police Station, confirmed that a police team conducted a swift operation following the report of the assault. During the raid, three staff members, including the manager of the filling station, were taken into custody for interrogation.
OC Nure Alam remarked on the status of the case:
Detentions: Three individuals are currently being held for primary questioning.
Legal Action: The process of filing a formal case is currently underway.
Suspect Identification: Police are investigating the direct role of Abdullah Al Raihan as the primary alleged assailant.
The district police administration has taken a stern view of the incident. Under the Bangladesh Penal Code, physical interference with or assault upon a public servant—even when in civilian clothing—is considered a serious offence. The fact that the victim was performing an official duty (procuring supplies for a police vehicle) adds weight to the potential charges.
As of Sunday evening, the local BNP leadership has not issued a formal clarification regarding the allegations against Abdullah Al Raihan. The petrol station remains under the surveillance of Gomostapur police as investigators work to record a formal statement from Constable Ali for the First Information Report (FIR). Further arrests may follow as forensic evidence and witness testimonies are consolidated.