desk report||
Police claimed to have arrested a youth with a machete from Monday’s Awami League rally, attended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
The arrestee has been identified as Shah Alam, 22, of Narayanganj’s Rupganj.
Police disclosed about his arrest on Tuesday.
Shahbagh Police Station OC Abu Bakar Siddique told bdnews24.com that they found the machete on Alam’s bag after he was detained at the rally venue.
The ruling party had organised the rally to commemorate the Jail Killing Day. Leaders and activists of the units of Awami League and its affiliate organisations from both in and outside of the capital attended it.
Police officials said Alam was held from the Udyan’s gate, some hundred yards away from the stage, when the prime minister was addressing the rally.
During questioning, the youth told law-enforcers that he came to attend the rally with a Kanchpur Swechchhasebak League leader named Shamser Ali.
He said he was carrying the machete ‘for safety’ as he had rivals in the organisation.
Awami Swechchhasebak League is the ruling party’s volunteer wing.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Mashrukur Rahman Khaled told bdnews24.com: “Shah Alam is a hired goon. He has no political affiliation.”
“He is accused in a case filed with Rupganj Police Station.”
Meanwhile, detectives said they were also looking for Shamser Ali. His phone was found switched off.
Rupganj police OC Mahmudul Islam said Shah Alam was accused in a case over attacking and injuring a person with sharp weapon last month.
About Ali, he said, “He was not involved in anything significant.”
Alam is currently being interrogated in DB’s custody by officials of different law-enforcing agencies.
The arrest was made only two days after a publisher was hacked to death with machetes and three others were seriously injured.
Militants in Bangladesh were seen widely using this weapon in different attacks.
DC Mashrukur Rahman Khaled said they were also checking whether Alam had any militant ties.
“Police first thought he is a militant. But we haven’t got any evidence as yet to substantiate that.”
“We’ll take him to court tomorrow (Wednesday) and seek his remand for questioning on several issues including the murder of the publisher in Shahbagh.”
The DB official said they would know more about what was Alam’s plan once he was remanded.