DB arrests Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri in Narsingdi

The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri in Narsingdi following a requisition from the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP).

Confirming the matter, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said the arrest was carried out at the request of the GMP.

Police later sent Ataur to Kashimpur Central Jail from Tongi East Police Station under the GMP. He was sent to jail this morning (24 December) through Tongi East police.

Tongi East Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mehedi Hasan said that following instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the DMP's DB detained Ataur and handed him over to Tongi East Police Station.

"After completing the necessary legal procedures, he was sent from Tongi East Police Station to Kashimpur Central Jail," the OC said.

Senior Jail Superintendent of Kashimpur High Security Central Jail Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun said, "Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri has been kept at Kashimpur Central Jail-1."

GMP Commissioner, Md. Israil Howlader told The Business Standard that Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri has made provocative statements on several occasions. "He has been arrested in the interest of maintaining law and order," he added.

According to a notice issued by the home ministry, "After reviewing the report and attached documents received from the Office of the Commissioner of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police, it became evident that Ataur Rahman Bikrampur needs to be detained under Section 2(F) of the Special Powers Act, 1974, to prevent him from engaging in activities harmful to public safety and law and order."

"And he should be kept in Kashimpur Central Jail, Gazipur, for 90 days from the date of issuance of the detention order," adds the order.

Since last night, followers and supporters of Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri had been posting about the incident on Facebook. His followers claimed that while he was travelling by bus from Bhairab, the bus was stopped and he was taken away in a microbus, but the claim could not be verified.

Ataur came to the spotlight after he spread disinformation on social media regarding the abduction of a Gazipur imam. It was later found that the preacher or Imam had not been abducted; rather, he himself had plotted the abduction.

Also, Ataur had participated in a protest in front of Prothom Alo a few months ago. He also led the efforts to forcibly release several people who had been taken to the police station from there. He was also among a mob that stormed Shahbagh Police Station in the capital to secure the release of a man accused of sexual harassment.