Awami League Leader Surrounded and Handed Over to Police at Rajshahi Hotel

At Friday night, Mainul Islam (Swapan), President of the Tanore Upazila Awami League, was forcibly taken from a hotel in the Saheb Bazar Zero Point area of Rajshahi city and handed over to the police by a group of people. The incident occurred around 11:30 PM.

Local sources reported that around 10 PM, a group identifying themselves as BNP activists gathered near the hotel located beside the Saheb Bazar Grand Mosque, accusing Mainul Islam of being inside the hotel. Though the hotel management initially denied his presence, the crowd grew larger. Upon receiving the news, Mainul Islam’s daughter arrived at the scene. By approximately 11:30 PM, the group forcibly brought Mainul Islam out of the hotel, after which the police took him into custody.

Ershad Ali, convener of Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP and a freedom fighter, commented on the incident: "I heard some Awami League members were secretly meeting in a hotel at night. Later, the public surrounded them. BNP leaders and activists might have been present, but no mob violence occurred. The police arrested him and took him away. Our activists have been instructed not to incite any public unrest, and nothing of that sort happened in Rajshahi."

Mostaq Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Boalia Model Police Station, stated that police were deployed after receiving reports of a crowd gathering in front of the hotel. Mainul Islam was arrested and brought to the police station. He assured that no physical harm was inflicted on him. On Saturday, Mainul Islam was presented before the court in connection with a case filed over an attack on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.