Former lawmaker and Awami League leader Khandaker Md Azizul Haque Arzu was detained by local Chhatra Dal activists in Dhaka’s Lalmatia before being handed over to police, officials said. He was subsequently arrested by Mohammadpur police.
The incident took place at around 10.30pm on Monday (14 September) in front of Mina Bazar in Lalmatia. According to police, local Chhatra Dal activists stopped and detained Arzu before handing him over to officers. There were also allegations that activists physically assaulted him during the detention.
Arzu, 69, is a former member of parliament for Pabna-2. He was elected from the constituency as an Awami League candidate in the 2014 general election. His home is in the Natiabari area of Aminpur in Pabna.
Police said the activists detained Arzu near Mina Bazar in Lalmatia on Monday night and later handed him over to law enforcement officers. He was taken into police custody and subsequently shown as arrested by Mohammadpur police.
The circumstances surrounding his detention are now part of the police’s assessment as officers review the cases filed against him. The authorities said Arzu has several cases pending against him, although details of the individual cases were not immediately disclosed.
His health condition also became a concern following the arrest. Mohammadpur police said Arzu has a history of heart disease. Taking his condition into consideration, police escorted him to a doctor accompanied by members of his family after he was taken into custody.
The police said medical attention was arranged in view of his reported health problems while he remained under police supervision. No further details about his treatment were immediately available.
Jewel Rana, additional deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon division, said local Chhatra Dal activists had assisted in detaining Arzu before he was taken into police custody.
“Azizul Haque Arzu was detained with the assistance of local Chhatra Dal activists and was subsequently shown as arrested,” Rana said.
He added that several cases had been filed against Arzu. Police would verify the details of those cases and investigate the allegations before deciding on the next legal steps, he said.
The incident highlights the increasingly tense political environment surrounding individuals linked to the Awami League, particularly those facing legal cases. However, the allegations of physical assault during Arzu’s detention remain separate from the formal arrest process and will require appropriate investigation.
For now, police have taken responsibility for Arzu’s custody and said further action will depend on verification of the cases against him and the findings of the investigation. His medical condition is also being considered as the legal process moves forward.
