Barishal: Joint forces on Thursday apprehended a BNP leader from Babuganj upazila within the Barishal-3 constituency, linked to an alleged attack on AB Party leader Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad last year. The leader, Rajon Sikder, who serves as the general secretary of Rahmatpur union BNP, was detained around 3pm near a local degree college, as reported by local sources.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rajon is accused of orchestrating the December 7 attack on Fuad, an AB Party candidate supported by an 11-party alliance in the Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) seat. Witnesses recounted that Rajon was at the Rajkar Secondary School polling centre when an army vehicle arrived and detained him, prompting his family members to protest by standing in front of the vehicle.
The situation was defused by Barishal Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Khairul Alam Sumon, who arrived as law enforcement intervened by charging batons. Rajon was subsequently escorted to the Babuganj upazila headquarters.
According to sources, Fuad had previously accused local individuals of extorting a bridge contractor after the foundation stone laying of the Mirganj Bridge. A video that went viral depicted Rajon leading a group that surrounded and harassed Fuad. Meanwhile, police have stated that Rajon has not yet been handed over to them.