Arrest of ward councillor sparks protest from locals

Arrest of a ward councillor of Phulbari municipality under the district has sparked protest from locals.

Police said they arrested councillor Motahar Ali from Nimtola area in Phulbari town on Friday evening and sent him to jail through a court yesterday as he is an accused in a tree stealing case filed by Mokhlesur Rahman of Barokona village on August 6.

Talking with local journalists, Mokhlesur Rahman said, "I just filed a complaint over a tree stealing incident on August 5, but I did not follow it up later. Police recorded a case in this regard on August 6."

Protesting Motahar Ali's arrest and demanding his immediate release, locals of the ward besieged Phulbari Police Station yesterday.

The protesters said police arrested Motahar Ali as he was one of the front runners in organising movement against dishonesty of Md Mostaque Ahmed, officer in charge (OC) of Phulbari Police Station.

"People in Phulbari upazila staged a demonstration on July 23, protesting dishonest activities of the OC," said Mozahar Ali, a resident of the area.  

Later, the protesters left the police station as Golam Mortuza Manik, mayor of Phulbari municipality, assured them of looking into the matter.

Contacted, OC Mostaque Ahmed claimed himself innocent.