Detectives from the Gaibandha District Detective Branch (DB) of police have arrested Ranjit Bakshi Surya, a senior vice-president of the district Awami League unit, in connection with a violent attack and arson incident targeting a local political office.
The 68-year-old politician was taken into custody at approximately 8:00 pm on Monday, 31 August, during an operation conducted in the VH Road area of Gaibandha town. Abdul Muttalib, Officer-in-Charge of the District DB Police, confirmed the arrest, stating that officers intercepted the suspect before transferring him directly to Gaibandha Sadar Police Station for further legal processing.
Surya, a resident of Masterpara in Gaibandha municipality and son of the late Rabindra Bakshi, is a named suspect in a high-profile criminal case stemming from political violence that erupted during mid-2024.
According to official police reports, the charges relate to an incident on 17 July 2024 at around 4:00 pm, when a crowd equipped with wooden sticks, iron rods, and sharp weapons launched a coordinated assault on the District Juba Dal office. The office is situated on the southern side of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters along Circular Road in Gaibandha town.
During the raid, several crude bombs were detonated, spreading panic throughout the commercial thoroughfare. Attackers subsequently poured petrol from Jerrycans onto the premise before setting the opposition party’s office ablaze, causing extensive damage to the interior and surrounding fixtures.
Rafiqul Islam, the convener of the Badiakhali Union Juba Dal, subsequently filed a formal case with Gaibandha Sadar Police Station regarding the attack. The police charge sheet names 98 specific individuals associated with the Awami League and its affiliate wings, including Shah Sarwar Kabir, the former Member of Parliament for the Gaibandha-5 constituency. An additional 150 to 160 unidentified individuals were also implicated in the case documents.
Nazmul Huda, Officer-in-Charge of Gaibandha Sadar Police Station, confirmed that Surya was formally named in the First Information Report (FIR). Law enforcement authorities indicated that formal court proceedings are under way, with investigations continuing to trace and apprehend remaining suspects linked to the arson attack.
