RAB arrests councillor Tarequzzaman
The Rapid Action Battalion on Saturday night arrested Tarequzzaman Rajib, Juba League leader and councillor of ward-33 (Mohammadpur) of Dhaka North City Corporation, from a house in Bashundhara residential area in Dhaka.
Rajib was expelled from the Juba League on the ground of breaching party discipline.
Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, senior assistant director of legal and media wing of Rapid Action Battalion, told New Age that Rajib was arrested on the basis of specific allegations brought against him in relation to extortion, landgrabbing and terrorism.
He clarified that Rajib’s arrest had nothing to do with the ongoing drive against illegal casino businesses.
He also said that the battalion 2 carried out drives at different places to find Rajib, including in his multi-storeyed residence at Mohammadia Housing Society in Mohammadpur.
The battalion conducted the raid at house No 404, road No 4 at Bashundhara residential area, on a tip-off that Rajib was hiding there since October 13. The house belonged to his expatriate friend.
The battalion laid a siege to the house and found some bullets and few bottles of foreign liquor and 33 thousand in cash after rigorous search till 12:30am.
At a news briefing at around 1:15am, battalion spokesperson said that they would continue their raid till morning at Rajib’s residence in Mohammadpur.
Councillor Rajib was arrested eight days after another DNCC councillor and former general secretary of Mohammadpur thana Awami League, Habibur Rahman Mizan, was arrested from Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar on October 11.
Mizan was councillor for ward No 32 of Mohammadpur.
The battalion seized cheques amounting to Tk 6 crore and 77 lakh, FDR of about Tk 1 crore and cash of about Tk 2 lakh from Mizan’s house.
On September 18, law-enforcement agencies started a drive against illegal casinos and bars and arrested Young Men’s Club president Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan, also organising secretary of Juba League’s Dhaka south unit.
The battalion and the police had raided over 20 sporting and recreation clubs in the capital, including Fakererpool Young Men’s Club, Wanderers Club, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Dhanmondi Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Arambagh Krira Sangha, Dilkusha Sporting Club, and Victoria Sporting Club and arrested over 150 leaders and activists of the ruling party and its front organisations.
On October 6, the battalion arrested Jubo League’s Dhaka south city unit president Ismail Chowdhury Samrat along with his associate Armanul Haque Arman from Chauddagram of Cumilla.
As the drive began, almost all suspected club operators, who are also leaders of the ruling Awami League and its associate and front organisations, went into hiding.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
