The BNP leader of Comilla was released from the police station after 12 hours, the reason for the detention was given by the police
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Comilla Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP President Rezaul Qayyum was released from the police station after 12 hours of detention. The police arrested him at around 12 noon on Sunday. After various dramas, he was released in the custody of other leaders including the General Secretary of Upazila BNP at around 12 o’clock in the morning.
After the incident, the police confirmed the arrest of Rezaul Qayyum, but refused to tell the exact reason for his arrest. However, after releasing the BNP leader, the police said that he was accused of controlling extortion at the bus terminal, one of the largest and busiest in Comilla. He was detained for questioning in view of that complaint. According to the police, Rezaul was released as the truth of the incident was not found after a long interrogation.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Earlier yesterday at around 12 noon, Rezaul Qayyum was arrested from his house in Shimanagacha area of Comilla city by members of Kotwali Model Police Station and Detective Branch (DB) of District Police. Later he was taken to Comilla Kotyali police station.
BNP leaders-activists and his supporters took a stand in front of Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station to protest the detention of Rezaul Qayyum and demand his release. Hundreds of leaders and activists were in front of the main gate of the police station from noon till Rezaul Qayyum was released. They gave different slogans demanding the release of Rezaul.
বিজ্ঞাপন
After being released from Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station at night, Rezaul Qayyum claimed that there was a big conspiracy against him. Addressing everyone, he said, ‘There was a big conspiracy about me; It was finally proven false. I was arrested on baseless charges. There is no truth in the allegations made against me. I thank everyone including our leaders and workers. I am grateful to all those who have suffered for me throughout the day.
Several law enforcement sources told Prothom Alo on the condition of anonymity that Rezaul Qayyum was arrested on the orders of the highest level of the government. He is accused of controlling extortion in various vehicles including CNG and battery-powered auto-rickshaws in the same area as the Sharangacha bus terminal. Especially after the fall of the Awami League government, Rezaul Qayyum, his brother and some followers of the local BNP came into the discussion about taking control of the bus terminal. Rezaul Qayyum’s house is also next to Shirangacha bus terminal. In the secret report of several intelligence agencies, the issue of Rezaul Qayyum’s extortion reached the highest level of the government. After that the police was ordered to arrest him. However, he was released after 12 hours after receiving the green signal from the highest level of the government.
Meanwhile, the BNP leader’s control of the bus terminal has been understood even after his arrest. As soon as Rezaul Qayyum was arrested at noon yesterday, his followers including the drivers and workers of various transports blocked the Shirangacha bus terminal. In this incident, several bus routes including Comilla-Dhaka, Comilla-Sylhet were stopped from that terminal. Apart from this, a group of followers of Rezaul threatened the traders and closed all the businesses in the area. After about three and a half hours, bus traffic from the terminal resumed at around three and a half yesterday. Then the shops in that area were opened.
At around 12:30 p.m. yesterday, Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Touhidul Anwar told Prothom Alo that there were some complaints related to extortion against Rezaul Qayyum at the bus terminal of Shirangacha at a high level. Later, he was arrested and taken into custody on the orders of the police headquarters. But after prolonged interrogation and scrutiny, the allegations were not found to be true. For this, he was released in the custody of Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP General Secretary Safiul Alam Raihan and other leaders at night.
A police source on the condition of anonymity said, before being released from the police station, bail was taken from BNP leader Rezaul Qayyum. There he promised to play a role in eradicating extortion in the ruling party.
Meanwhile, after the release of Rezaul Qayyum from the police station, his followers were seen expressing joy. At 12:15 PM, General Secretary of Comilla Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP Safiul Alam (Rayhan) told Prothom Alo, ‘We are taking Rezaul Qayyum home. After interrogation, the police released our upazila BNP president. The police will tell you the details of this matter.
Earlier, Safiul Alam said that Rezaul Qayyum was not involved in any matter related to the bus terminal in relation to the complaint of control of extortion against Rezaul. These allegations are baseless. A conspiracy brought the issue forward. Even after a long interrogation at the police station, the police did not find any evidence of such an incident.
It was seen at Comilla Kotwali police station from noon to night yesterday, Rezaul Qayyum was interrogated in the office of the officer in charge of the police station during the day. Comilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Saiful Malik and some police officers interrogated him. Rezaul was removed from there around 10 pm and taken to a room for women and children services of the police station. He was released from there around 12 o’clock in the night.
District Police Superintendent to speak in detail in this context. Anisuzzaman’s mobile phone was called at different times from noon to midnight on Sunday, but he did not pick up. Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Saiful Malik told Prothom Alo, “We detained BNP leader Rezaul Qayyum for questioning in view of some specific allegations.”
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