Two Local Awami League Leaders Remanded to Custody in Bogura

Police in Bogura’s Dhunat Upazila have arrested two local leaders of the Awami League in connection with separate legal cases involving an assault on a opposition motorcade, arson, and the vandalism of a political office.

The arrests were carried out during overnight raids conducted on Thursday, 30 July. Following their detention, the suspects were presented before a Bogura court on Friday afternoon, which subsequently ordered them to be sent to jail pending trial.

The detained individuals have been identified as Nazrul Islam Mithu, 50, joint secretary of the Kalerpara Union Awami League, and Lablu Khondokar, 38, legal affairs secretary of the Dhunat Upazila Awami League. Mithu was apprehended from his home in Arkatia village, whilst Khondokar was arrested at his residence in Jolagati village.

Details of the Accused and Charges

Lablu Khondokar (38): Legal Affairs Secretary, Dhunat Upazila Awami League. Arrested as a named accused in the 2018 election motorcade attack case.

Nazrul Islam Mithu (50): Joint Secretary, Kalerpara Union Awami League. Arrested as a suspect in the 2023 party office attack and bomb blast case.

The first incident dates back to 11 December 2018 during the campaign for the 11th National Parliamentary Election. Golam Mohammad Siraj, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the constituency, was conducting an electoral rally in the Kalapatti area of Dhunat. The campaign convoy came under violent attack, resulting in extensive property damage. Assailants vandalised two SUVs and two microbuses, whilst setting fire to ten motorcycles at the scene.

In response to the violence, Rafiqul Islam Shaheen, former general secretary of Dhunat Upazila BNP, filed a formal complaint with the local police station. Lablu Khondokar was named directly in the First Information Report (FIR) and has now been taken into custody in connection with this investigation.

The second case stems from a political gathering held on 7 June 2023 in the Paschim Bharanshahi area of Dhunat municipality. According to case records, activists associated with the Chhatra League and Jubo League detonated crude cocktails and ransacked the local BNP office during a workers’ meeting.

Although the incident occurred in mid-2023, formal legal proceedings were initiated on 26 January 2025, when Asadul Islam, joint general secretary of the Upazila Shramik Dal, lodged a case at the Dhunat Police Station. Nazrul Islam Mithu was detained as a named suspect in this ongoing inquiry.

Atikul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhunat Police Station, confirmed that both individuals were formally remanded into judicial custody by order of the court. He added that law enforcement officers are continuing targeted operations across the region to apprehend remaining suspects linked to both incidents.