No suicides reported after Sylhet resort raid, likely rumours: Police

Rumours circulated on Facebook today (20 January) claiming two individuals committed suicide after the forced marriage at Regent Park and Resort in Sylhet.

However, police have denied these claims.

Moglabazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman stated that no suicides have been reported and that the information is likely a rumour.

The resort owner, Helal Uddin, also denied any knowledge of suicides among those forced into marriage at the resort. 

Helal Uddin filed a general diary at Moglabazar Police Station this evening over yesterday's raid by locals at his resort.

Confirming the matter, Regent Park Resort Managing Director (MD) Helal Uddin said some locals are now attempting to resolve the issue.

Locals marry off 8 young men and women after ‘raiding’ Sylhet resort

Yesterday, a group of locals led by allegedly a BNP leader launched a raid at the resort in Silam area of South Surma in Sylhet. 

During the raid, local residents held 12 young men and women from the resort and married off eight of them.

The resort owner described how a group of young people stormed the resort yesterday, causing significant damage and setting furniture ablaze. 

They also seized voter ID cards of the guests and resort keys, he added.

The estimated damage to the resort is Tk30-40 lakh, said Helal.

Helal Uddin claimed that he has been subjected to repeated demands for extortion from locals, allegedly on behalf of a political party. However, he declined to specify the party involved.

Shirin Akhter, president of Sylhet Women Lawyers Association, condemned the incident, emphasising that adults have the right to freedom of movement. 

She questioned the authority of locals to held and marry off individuals, highlighting that such actions should be handled by law enforcement members.

Kazi Abdul Bari, who conducted the marriages, said locals held the youths and informed him. He performed the marriages in the presence of locals and the parents of the individuals involved. 

Bari also mentioned the presence of some local BNP leaders during the weddings.

Jatiyatavadi Krishak Dal Sylhet district member secretary and Dakshin Surma Upazila BNP general secretary Tajrul Islam Tajul, a resident of the Silam area, was present at the scene during the attack and forced marriages.

Tajul claimed that the youths were held for their involvement in anti-social activities and their parents were informed. 

He stated that eight couples were married with the consent of their parents, while the remaining eight were released to their parents' custody with a promise to organise the weddings later. 

He denied any forced marriages.

Regarding extortion, Tajul stated that he was unaware of such demands. 

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Saiful Islam stated that the police were unaware of any marriages. 

He said the police responded to the attack report but later left the scene after local leaders assured them of resolving the matter.