Rally, human chain demand arrest of phensidyl traders

Local people and law enforcers held a rally and formed a human chain in front of Kansat Palli Bidyut office in Shibganj upazila of the district yesterday, demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the drug traders who allegedly killed two police officials.

The human chain was formed under the banner of Community Policing Forum (CPF) around 11:00am.

On March 3, the victims were crushed to death by a truck carrying phensidyl at Kansat in the upazila, said the speakers at the rally.

They are Sergeant Ataul Islam, 27, and Sub-Inspector Sadekul Islam, 32, of Shibganj Police Station.  

Ataul and Sadekul were patrolling on a motorcycle on Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid Land Port highway around 5:30am.

Informed that a truck loaded with drugs was crossing Kansat, the two went to the spot and signalled the truck to stop, but the driver ignored their signal.

Later, the police officials chased the truck.

The truck slowed down, letting the motorbike go in front of it, ran over Ataul and Sadekul near Palli Bidyut office and fled. The duo died on the spot. 

Police later arrested trucker Sirajul Islam, 38, from Bholahat upazila. They also seized the truck and recovered 1,450 bottles of phensidyl from the vehicle.

The participants in the rally blamed a section of drug traders for the killings.

Police Superintendent Bashir Ahmed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Irtiza Hasan and Officer-in-Charge of the PS Moinul Islam, among others, spoke.