Police have arrested Sazzad Hossain Swapan, a former chairman of Burichang Upazila Parishad in Cumilla and joint general secretary of the Cumilla South District unit of the Awami League.
He was arrested on Friday afternoon from his residence at SH Mansion on the western bank of Dharmasagar in Cumilla city, according to police.
Sazzad Hossain served as chairman of Burichang Upazila Parishad in 2009. He is the son of the late Ayet Ali of Bakshimool village in Burichang. During his political career, he was associated with the Awami League and was regarded as a follower of former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and former railway minister Mujibul Haque.
Police said Sazzad Hossain had gone into hiding for some time following the fall of the Awami League government in 2024. He later resumed public activities and was allegedly involved in political organising through online platforms. Police said he had been staying at his Cumilla residence for about a week before his arrest.
His recent activity on social media also drew attention. Five days before his arrest, he reportedly posted a group photograph with party activists on his Facebook account. Police said he had continued maintaining contact with party workers while staying at his city residence.
According to police sources, Sazzad Hossain was allegedly attempting to organise Awami League activists from his residence. He was also accused of playing a behind-the-scenes role in arranging several processions in the district.
The arrest was made in connection with a case filed at Kotwali Police Station over the July movement. Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Touhidul Anwar said Sazzad Hossain was an accused in the case and had been shown arrested in connection with it.
Following his arrest, police produced him before a court on Saturday morning. The court subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail custody.
The case now moves into the next stage of the legal process, with the allegations against Sazzad Hossain to be dealt with through the judicial proceedings. Police have yet to provide further details publicly about the specific allegations in the case or the progress of the investigation.
Sazzad Hossain’s arrest comes amid continued legal action against a number of former political figures and activists following the political upheaval of 2024. His detention is therefore likely to draw attention locally, particularly given his previous position as an elected upazila chairman and his senior role in the district-level Awami League organisation.
