Jiaul Haque Jewel, joint general secretary of the Patuakhali district Awami League and former mayor of Bauphal Municipality, has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Jewel was arrested from a house in the Baridhara DOHS area of the capital at around 11.30pm on Wednesday (30 September), according to sources familiar with the operation. He was subsequently taken to the DB office on Mintu Road.
According to a police source, a DB team conducted an operation at the residence after receiving intelligence about Jewel’s whereabouts. He was taken into custody during the operation and later transferred to the DB office for further proceedings.
A police officer said Jewel is facing several cases and arrest warrants have reportedly been issued against him in connection with those cases. Police claim that he had been in hiding since 5 August 2024.
The officer said law enforcement agencies had been unable to confirm his whereabouts for a considerable period. Recently, however, investigators received information indicating that Jewel was staying in the Baridhara DOHS area. Following the intelligence, the DB team carried out the operation on Wednesday night.
After his arrest, Jewel was taken to the DB office, where the cases against him will be reviewed before further legal action is taken, the officer said.
Details of the cases, including the specific allegations against Jewel and the grounds on which the arrest warrants were issued, have not yet been made public by the police or the relevant court. As a result, the full legal circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear.
Jewel has been active in local Awami League politics in Bauphal for many years. He served as joint general secretary of the Patuakhali district Awami League and also held the position of mayor of Bauphal Municipality. He was regarded as a prominent figure in the party’s local political activities.
Members of his family have described Jewel as a clean politician. They said he had been elected mayor of Bauphal Municipality more than once and maintained close contact with local residents during his time in office. The family also claimed that he was involved in various development activities in the municipality alongside his political responsibilities.
The family’s description of his political career contrasts with the legal circumstances now facing him, although the allegations in the cases have yet to be detailed publicly. Any allegations against him will be dealt with through the relevant legal proceedings.
Jewel’s arrest has drawn attention in Bauphal and the wider Patuakhali political arena. Local interest is now centred on the cases against him, the allegations they contain and the next steps in the judicial process.
Further details are expected to become available when the authorities disclose the case information and Jewel is brought before the relevant court.
