Shibchar: Law enforcement agencies have arrested Azahar Howlader of Shibchar on charges of setting fire to a sugar-laden truck and obstructing traffic on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway to enforce the Awami League-prohibited lockdown.
He was arrested from his home in a joint operation by RAB and police on Friday night based on a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Azahar Howlader (40) is the son of Mohammad Howlader of Shamsuddin Moulvir Kandi village of Qutubpur union.
According to local sources, he was an active Awami League worker during Hasina’s long rule. He used to regularly participate in election campaigns, including the meetings and rallies of former MP Liton Chowdhury. After the political situation changed, he joined BNP politics. He was seen at various rallies of Kamal Zaman Nuruddin Mollah, the suspended candidate for Madaripur-1 constituency. He was also at the forefront of the election rally in Shibchar on Friday afternoon.
According to police sources, a case was filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after his involvement in the two incidents of setting fire to a truck loaded with sugarcane near the Padma Bridge toll plaza in Naoduba area of Shariatpur on November 13 and obstructing traffic on the expressway was found in the IT analysis.
Mir Monir Hossain, Camp Commander of RAB-8 Madaripur Camp, said, “Evidence has been found of Azahar Howlader’s involvement in sabotage and violent activities during the lockdown. After verifying intelligence information including IT analysis, he was arrested and handed over to the police.”
Several pictures and videos related to this have already gone viral on social media Facebook. In the pictures that went viral, he was seen with Liton Chowdhury at various events. In some pictures, he was seen campaigning for Liton Chowdhury in a boat. Again, the same person was taking part in a rally of BNP leader Kamal Zaman Mollah.
Meanwhile, Madaripur District Chhatra Dal Joint Convener Nazmul Hasan Milon reacted to this. He said, “This man has been with Awami League for the last 15 years. He has sought votes for Liton Chowdhury. He joined BNP immediately after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Kamal Zaman used to regularly attend all of Molla’s programs. He was also at the rally on Friday afternoon. He was arrested that night under the Anti-Terrorism Act.”
He was handed over to the Padma Bridge South Police Station on Saturday morning and sent to jail on the orders of the court.
According to locals, “Many in Shibchar do BNP during the day and Awami League at night.” This statement about Azahar’s arrest has come into the spotlight again.
