Police in Chaugachha, Jashore, have detained Shafiqul Islam, alias Shafi Member, president of the Dhuliani union unit of the banned Awami League and a former union parishad member. He was detained at Kabilpur bazar in the upazila on Tuesday (November 3) night.
Shafiqul Islam is the son of Sonai Mondol of Kabilpur village in the upazila. Police said he was detained in a sabotage case. According to police, he faces 18 cases in all, including several drug-related cases.
Shafiqul has long been accused of involvement in the drug trade. At a press conference at the Jashore Press Club auditorium on May 24, 2017, the then superintendent of police, Anisur Rahman, announced rewards for help in catching 14 top drug dealers in the district. Shafi Member, alias Shafiqul Islam, was number four on that list.
Local sources said he went abroad at that time as police stepped up anti-drug drives. He later returned and became active in Awami League politics. He was declared president at the triennial conference of the Dhuliani union Awami League in Chaugachha on May 28, 2017.
Local political sources claim that even after August 5, 2024, Shafiqul played an active role in keeping up contact and organisational activity among Awami League leaders and activists in Chaugachha. As his home is in an area bordering India, he is also alleged to have acted as a coordinator keeping local leaders and activists in touch with Awami League leaders staying in India.
In particular, he is alleged to have been involved in passing on messages from Awami League leaders in India to local leaders and activists ahead of December. Law enforcement agencies have not yet made any formal statement on these allegations.
Chaugachha police station’s newly appointed officer-in-charge (OC) Kazi Babul Hossain confirmed the detention. He said Shafi Member, alias Shafiqul, faces more than a dozen drug cases and was detained in a sabotage case on a tip-off. He was sent to court on Wednesday.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report