Sada Pathor looting: Upazila BNP demands release of Shahab Uddin; 2 local leaders served show-cause notices
Shahab Uddin had been suspended from his post by the party’s central committee on 11 August over allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and activities deemed contrary to party principles
The Sylhet district unit of the BNP has issued show-cause notices to two local leaders after the Companiganj upazila BNP demanded the release of its former president, Shahab Uddin, who was arrested in connection with the Sada Pathor looting case.
Shahab Uddin, who previously served as president of the Companiganj upazila BNP, was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-9) from the Amberkhana area of Sylhet city on Saturday night (13 September).
He had been suspended from his post by the party's central committee on 11 August over allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and activities deemed contrary to party principles.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He has also been widely discussed as a key figure in the recent sada pathor looting incidents.
Following his arrest, the Companiganj upazila BNP issued a statement on Monday (15 September), signed by acting President Haji Abdul Mannan Monaf and general secretary Ali Akbar, demanding Shahab Uddin's release.
The statement read, "Shahab Uddin is a frontline activist who fought against past autocratic regimes and has long been a victim of false cases and persecution. His arrest in this false case over stone looting is highly condemnable. We strongly protest his detention and demand his immediate release."
The statement also claimed that Shahab Uddin's suspension was the result of "false allegations."
In response, Sylhet district BNP President Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury confirmed yesterday (16 September) that Abdul Mannan and Ali Akbar have been served show-cause notices for issuing the statement.
"They were served the notice yesterday and have been asked to submit a written explanation to the district BNP within three days," he said.
Earlier, RAB issued a press release describing Shahab Uddin as one of the "main perpetrators" behind the stone looting. He was later shown arrested in a case filed by the Bureau of Mineral Development with Companiganj police station on 15 August. The case names between 1,000 to 1,500 unidentified individuals as accused.
