Political activists stage torchlight protest outside Rajshahi police station over alleged officer misconduct

RAJSHAHI — Supporters of a former Tati Dal leader staged a torchlight procession and protest outside Karnahar Police Station on Tuesday night, accusing a local police officer of insulting the politician.

The protest, led by Shadman Sakib, a former organizing secretary of the district Tati Dal, followed an alleged confrontation between police and Sakib’s associates on August 28. Sakib, a resident of Darusha in the Huzuripara Union of Paba Upazila, claimed that Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ujjal stopped two of his associates on their way home and subjected them to derogatory remarks upon hearing Sakib’s name.

During the demonstration, Sakib demanded legal action against the accused officer and warned that any further mistreatment of his associates would be met with stronger protests. He also criticized some local leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliate organizations, accusing them of colluding with the police. A video of his speech has since circulated on social media, showing him asserting that his supporters would continue to move freely throughout Paba at any hour, describing themselves as the “guardians” of the area.

Karnahar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Habibur Rahman denied the allegations of misconduct. He stated that the accused officers, Ujjal and Uttam, are professional and were equipped with body-worn cameras at the time, which provide evidence of the encounter.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission cuts retail LPG prices by 13 taka per 12kg cylinder

Read Article

Local political figures have distanced themselves from the incident, calling the protest a personal grievance rather than an official party action. Md. Abdullah, the Paba Huzuripara Union Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president, stated that the two associates involved in the initial stop were riding motorcycles without driving licenses or helmets. He argued that the police were performing routine duties and that Sakib’s public reaction has tarnished the reputation of the party.

In response to the incident, the local unit of the BNP convened a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the fallout. Taijul Islam, joint convener of the district Jubo Dal, confirmed the meeting and emphasized that the party is assessing the damage caused by Sakib’s actions to the organization’s image.

Sakib maintained his position regarding the protest, stating that he acted against what he perceived as an injustice and remains prepared to protest again if necessary, regardless of the party’s internal assessment.