Sylhet:Police have identified Sohel Square Eco Resort in the Ratargul area of Gowainghat upazila, Sylhet, as the location where fugitive former Sunamganj lawmaker Ranjit Sarkar held a controversial meeting. The event has sparked widespread discussion following the release of a video from the gathering.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting took place on November 8 and was attended by 175 people. The identification of the venue was made after police detained Tara Mia, the organising secretary of the Awami League's Tahirpur upazila unit, based on a video uploaded on Sarkar's Facebook page.
Tara Mia's information led Sunamganj Superintendent of Police ABM Zakir Hossain to confirm that the meeting was held at the resort, about 26 kilometers from Sylhet city. Tara was detained through mobile phone tracking and questioned by senior district police officials. He disclosed that Ranjit Sarkar had held the meeting in Ratargul, leading the police team to the venue.
During the interrogation, Tara Mia revealed that an advocate had rented the resort, claiming to organise an educational tour. However, Ranjit Sarkar unexpectedly arrived, delivered a brief speech, and left. A banner initially announcing an educational tour was replaced during the meeting.
Sylhet Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Md Zaber Sadeque stated that the meeting was held near the Sunamganj border, with attendees primarily from Sunamganj. Attempts to reach Sohel Square Eco Resort via the contact number on its Facebook page were unsuccessful, as the phone was switched off.
Ranjit Sarkar's video of the event, posted on his Facebook account, included criticism of the current government. This video led to an angry crowd setting fire to his house in the Gopaltilla area of Sylhet city on Monday midnight. The meeting organisers were listed as the Awami League and affiliated groups from various upazilas.