Sylhet:A case has been filed against 200 individuals, including fugitive former Awami League MP Ranjit Sarkar, for allegedly organizing a secret meeting under the guise of a picnic and educational tour at a resort in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the case involves 20 identified individuals, including Ranjit Sarkar, and 175 unidentified individuals. It was filed on Thursday afternoon, as stated by Md Omar Faruk, Officer-in-Charge of Gowainghat Police Station.
Four individuals, including two resort employees, have been arrested in connection with the case. Those arrested are Raju Islam, 16, from Murarban village in Sunamganj Sadar upazila; Farhad Ahmed, 19; Faruk Ahmed, 59, from Khasbarhal village in Gowainghat; and Ali Hossain, 34, from Nayabasti village. They have been presented before a court.
The Sohel Square Eco Resort in Ratargul was shut down and locked following the incident. A lawyer named Rokon Mia had rented the resort on November 8, claiming it was for an educational tour. Initially, a banner for an educational tour was displayed at the venue.
However, Ranjit Sarkar, a former MP from Sunamganj-1 and organizing secretary of the Sylhet district unit of the Awami League, whose activities are banned by executive order, appeared unexpectedly. He displayed a party banner, gave a brief speech, and departed shortly after.
The incident gained national attention after Ranjit Sarkar shared a video of the meeting on his Facebook account at 449 pm on Monday, November 9. In a related development, Sunamganj district police arrested Tara Mia, organizing secretary of the Tahirpur upazila Awami League, who was later sent to jail.
In a separate incident, Ranjit Sarkar's house in the Gopaltila area of Sylhet city was set on fire around midnight, hours after the video was posted.