Police in Cumilla have arrested A F M Ahsan Uddin Tutul, former president of the Cumilla South District Chhatra League, in connection with an anti-terrorism case. He was sent to jail through a court order on Saturday (24 October) after being formally shown as arrested in the case.
Tutul was arrested earlier that day at his home in the Balutopa area of Jagannathpur Union, under Adarsha Sadar Upazila in Cumilla district.
Towhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, confirmed the arrest. He said Tutul had recently returned to the area and was allegedly working to reorganise the Awami League. Police showed him as arrested in an anti-terrorism case on the basis of specific allegations before producing him before the court and sending him to jail.
According to police sources, Tutul had been in hiding since 5 August 2024, when the Awami League government fell amid a nationwide political upheaval. He reportedly returned to his home area recently and began efforts to reorganise the party. Police subsequently conducted an operation and arrested him following a tip-off.
Tutul is known in Cumilla’s political circles as a close follower of former railway minister Mujibul Haque. His association with the former minister has contributed to his recognition in the district’s political landscape.
Party sources said Tutul became president of the Cumilla South District Chhatra League committee announced on 27 June 2011. His leadership role in the student organisation established his profile in local politics, where he remained associated with Haque’s political circle.
However, Tutul’s family has offered a different perspective on the case. Family members claim that he has no case against him relating to the July 2024 uprising. They also said he had been planning to travel to Japan next month.
The family’s statement contrasts with the police account, which refers to specific allegations under the anti-terrorism law. The details of those allegations, the precise provisions under which Tutul was charged and any response from him regarding the case were not available in the information provided.
His arrest comes against the backdrop of major political changes in Bangladesh following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024. Since then, political figures and activists have faced investigations, arrests and legal proceedings in various parts of the country.
The circumstances surrounding individual cases, however, must be assessed on their own evidence. An arrest does not in itself establish guilt, and the allegations against Tutul will need to be examined through the legal process. Further details about the investigation and the court proceedings may clarify the nature of the accusations and the evidence supporting them.
