BNP leader Rezaul was arrested on charges of controlling extortion at bus terminal in Comilla
Photo Collected
Comilla Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP president Rezaul Qayyum was arrested 12 hours after the police released the leaders of the party. After he was released from Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station at midnight on Sunday, there has been widespread discussion and criticism around the incident.
According to the police, Rezaul was detained for questioning based on the complaint of control of extortion centered on Shirangacha bus terminal. However, after long interrogation and scrutiny, he was released as the allegations were not found to be true.
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Rezaul Qayyum is the former joint convener of Comilla South District BNP. He is known in the area as a follower of BNP Chairman and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid. Locals claim that he has influence in the surrounding areas including the terminal as his house is in Sharingacha area.
Members of the Kotwali police station and DB police arrested Rezaul from his house in the Shamangacha area yesterday afternoon. When news of the arrest spread, BNP leaders and supporters took a position in front of the police station. Hundreds of leaders and activists stayed there from noon to late night and raised slogans demanding freedom. His followers are seen rejoicing after being released at midnight.
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A few local residents said on condition of anonymity that Rezaul Qayyum is the controller of everything at the bus terminal, which has been cleared once again after his arrest. Soon after he was arrested, bus services were stopped at Shirangacha bus terminal. When the transport workers and their followers blocked the terminal, traffic on various routes including Comilla-Dhaka came to a standstill. The situation returned to normal after about three and a half hours. They claim that this incident happened because of Rezaul’s influence on the terminal.
Those residents also said that not only the bus terminal, but also in the surrounding areas including Sharingacha, when someone goes to build a house or buy and sell property, but the name of Rezaul is demanded for money. But no one wants to open their mouths about this out of fear. Because Rezaul and his family are very influential in the whole area.
According to multiple sources of law and order enforcement, Rezaul was arrested on the orders of a higher level. He is accused of controlling the extortion of various vehicles including CNG, battery-powered auto-rickshaws in the same area as the bus terminal. In the intelligence report, allegations of his involvement in controlling extortion in various transport sectors including Shirangacha Terminal came up. However, he was later released after receiving a ‘green signal’ from the higher-ups.
Touhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said that although inquiries were made regarding the complaint, no concrete evidence was found. Therefore, Rezaul has been released in the custody of the leaders including General Secretary of Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP Safiul Alam Raihan.
A police source said Rezaul Qayyum was given bond before his release, where he pledged to play a role in preventing extortion in the area. However, Rezaul Qayyum denied these allegations. He said that a group is conspiring against him. He commented, ‘It is my crime to be born in a ruler’s house. If anything happens here, the responsibility is put on me.’
Meanwhile, CNG and battery-operated auto-rickshaw workers staged a protest against the extortion in the Bharsar Bazar area of Burichong last Friday. They complain that they are charged more than a certain amount every day, but the receipts are less. Rezaul Qayyum was arrested two days after the video of the incident went viral on social media.
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