Police in Gopalganj have arrested Hafizur Rahman, also known as Piyal, the owner of FNF Convention Hall and Party Centre, following a concert at which slogans were raised in support of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Rahman was arrested by Gopalganj Sadar police on Tuesday morning and was subsequently sent to jail through the court. According to police, he has been shown arrested in connection with an earlier case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The incident took place on Monday evening at Gopalganj Poura Park, where a concert had been organised to mark the grand opening of FNF Convention Hall and Party Centre. Singer Mainul Ahsan Noble performed at the event.
The programme began in the evening and initially proceeded as a musical event. At one stage, however, people in the audience began chanting slogans in support of Sheikh Hasina. Organisers reportedly attempted to stop the chanting.
An announcement was also made from the stage, stating that the event was not a political programme. Despite the appeal, the slogans continued. The concert was eventually stopped at around 9.15pm.
The incident subsequently drew the attention of law-enforcement authorities, particularly because the organisers had not obtained police permission before holding the event.
Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Md Habibullah said the concert had been arranged without the required police permission and that disorder had developed at the venue. He also said there were allegations that supporters and activists of a political organisation had gathered there.
On these grounds, the police arrested Rahman under the Anti-Terrorism Act and produced him before the court, which sent him to jail, according to the police chief.
When asked about the complainant and details of the case statement, the superintendent of police declined to provide specific information, saying the police had proceeded with the case in accordance with the documents submitted to the court.
Gopalganj Sadar police station sources later confirmed that Rahman had been shown arrested in a previously filed case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The sources did not provide further details about the allegations contained in that case.
Rahman’s family background has also attracted attention in connection with the incident. His father, Khalid Hossain, is the treasurer of the Tungipara upazila Awami League and a former chairman of Barni Union Parishad.
The episode comes amid heightened sensitivity surrounding political activities and public gatherings in Gopalganj. The arrest, however, relates to the specific allegations cited by police, including the absence of prior permission for the concert and the circumstances that developed during the event. Further details concerning the case are expected to emerge through the ongoing legal proceedings.
