Former BCL leader arrested with masks-torches, father says ‘conspiracy’
The police have detained a former Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader named Tashrik Zaman with masks, torches and a motorcycle on allegation of 'plotting sabotage'.
Members of Natore sadar police station detained him from the town on Tuesday night in presence of Natore-2 constituency MP Shafiqul Islam.
Detained Tashrik Zaman was the president of BCL unit of ward-7 of Natore pourashava (municipality) formed on 23 April 2022. However, the committee was dissolved later, according to sources.
According to the police and locals, a group of policemen, led by Sadar police station officer-in-charge (OC) Nasim Ahmed, detained him in front of a house in the Hat Rasta area of the town. Later, they recovered six torches, three masks and a motorcycle.
At the time, Natore-2 MP Shafiqul Islam appeared there with his men. The MP told the people present there that Tashrik was a BNP activist. He was plotting sabotage during the BNP's blockade on Wednesday. The MP claimed to have gone there upon receiving the news and after informing the police and administration.
Tashrik went live on social media Facebook when police handcuffed and took him to the prison van. He said on Facebook live, “I am the former president of the Chhatra League unit in ward-7. I was standing in front of a house. It cannot be a crime.”
A video containing a picture of the incident, other photos of Ishrak with the ward-7 BCL unit and district Chhatra League leaders back in 2022 started circulating on social media. None of his family members were at home when this correspondent went there at night. They all were waiting at the police station at the time.
Speaking to Prothom Alo over the phone, Tashrik’s father said Tashrik was the former president of ward-7. Why would he plot sabotage in the town? A section of the party is trying to conspire against him.
Natore district BCL president Farhad-Bin Aziz said, “We don’t even have any poura committee here, let alone a ward committee. I will have to check whether he was the president of a dissolved committee.”
Sadar police station officer-in-charge (OC) Nasim Ahmed told Prothom Alo over the phone that they reached the spot after getting information that three youths were plotting sabotage there. Tashrik was standing there at the time. Police detained him on suspicion. Later, they raided the house that Tashrik was standing in front of and recovered musks, torches and a motorcycle.
Later, the police found that Tashrik is a former BCL leader. Necessary initiatives would be taken after further verification.
A video containing a picture of the incident, other photos of Ishrak with the ward-7 BCL unit and district Chhatra League leader back in 2022 started circulating on social media. None of his family members were not at home when this correspondent went there at night. They all were waiting at the police station at the time.