Police in Ghoraghat, Dinajpur, have arrested a local leader of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on charges of embezzling 5.4 million BDT (approximately £34,000) through fraudulent business transactions and land deals.
The suspect, Uzzal Mia, 41, serves as the joint convener of the Ghoraghat Upazila branch of Jubo Dal. He was apprehended by law enforcement officers from Ghoraghat municipality town during a late-night raid at approximately 2:00 am on Monday.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Confirming the arrest, Ghoraghat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahmud Hasan stated that the suspect was taken into custody following a formal complaint lodged by a local resident. Law enforcement authorities prepared the necessary documentation to produce Uzzal Mia before the Dinajpur court on Tuesday to seek detention pending further investigation.
The accused is the son of the late Yunus Ali, hailing from Osmandpur Chhayghatti village within the Ghoraghat sub-district.
Details of the Embezzlement Allegations
The legal action stems from a case filed by Rifat Kabir, a resident of Kashiyatala Sidhalgram village in Ghoraghat sub-district. According to the First Information Report (FIR) and statements provided by the complainant, the dispute originated from a land transaction conducted earlier this year.
In February, Rifat Kabir agreed to sell a 57-decimal plot of land situated in the Sagarpur area to Uzzal Mia for a total consideration of 2.28 million BDT. At the time of the agreement, Uzzal paid an initial cash deposit of 1 million BDT, leaving an outstanding balance of 1.28 million BDT. However, the buyer subsequently began stalling and avoided settling the remaining amount.
The financial transaction broadened when Uzzal offered to procure 50 head of cattle for Rifat Kabir’s dairy farm. Between 8 March and 2 May, Rifat transferred 3 million BDT in advance through official banking channels to facilitate the purchase. In addition to this sum, Uzzal secured an extra 1.8 million BDT as a personal loan from the victim. Combined with the unpaid land balance, the total figure owed reached 5.4 million BDT.
Despite receiving the substantial financial transfers, Uzzal failed to deliver the livestock as promised. When Rifat pressed for the return of his funds, the accused reportedly severed all communications.
Local Arbitration and Extortion Claims
In an attempt to resolve the matter outside court, local community elders organized a arbitration meeting on 8 June in the presence of both parties. During the mediation session, Uzzal acknowledged his financial obligations against a total claim nearing 6 million BDT. He paid an initial sum of 700,000 BDT on the spot and signed a written undertaking promising to clear the remainder within a stipulated timeframe.
However, Uzzal defaulted once the deadline passed. Upon being approached again for the outstanding balance, the accused allegedly refused to make any further payments and escalated the situation by demanding 1 million BDT in extortion money from the complainant, prompting Rifat to seek police intervention.
Political Response
The arrest of a office-bearer has drawn attention within political circles in Dinajpur. Responding to the development, AKM Masudul Islam, Convener of the Dinajpur District unit of Jubo Dal, emphasized that party affiliation would not grant immunity from criminal investigation.
He stated that anyone committing a crime must face appropriate legal action under the law of the land. The political organization plans to conduct its own internal inquiry into the matter, and should the charges against Uzzal Mia be substantiated, strict organizational disciplinary measures will be enforced against him.
