14 held over Lalmonirhat Police Station attack, BNP and affiliated men suspended

Police have so far detained 14 accused, including two convicts, in connection with the recent attack, vandalism and clash at Patgram Police Station of Lalmonirhat district to snatch away the convicts from the police custody.

Among those arrested are Belal Hossain and Sohel Rana, two stone quarry workers each sentenced to one month in jail by a mobile court, Nurunnabi Kazal, convenor of Hatibandha upazila Swechchhasebak Dal and several activists from BNP, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal.

The incident of snatching convicts from the police custody, clashing with police, vandalising valuables occurred on Wednesday night when the two convicts Belal and Sohel were brought to Patgram Police Station following their sentencing.

Their cohorts soon gathered, triggering tensions that escalated into an attack on the station. Protesters vandalised doors, windows, furniture, and laptops before forcibly freeing the two convicts.

Later, police filed a case naming 27 people and many unidentified ones.

Eight BNP and Swechchhasebak Dal activists were initially arrested, followed by six more, including Belal and Sohel, bringing the total to 14 in the two cases.

Meanwhile, due to road blockades, police from Hatibandha failed to reach the spot despite requests for reinforcement.

Another case was filed at Hatibandha Police Station, leading to the arrest of Nurunnabi Kazal and two others.

Kazal was suspended from the party while Jahangir Mostafiz Chapal, former member of the Patgram upazila unit of the BNP and Patgram municipal Jubo Dal leader Mahmud Hossain were removed for breaching party discipline.

Lalmonirhat Superintendent of Police Tarikul Islam said those involved will be brought to justice based on video footage and other evidence as drives were on.