BNP worker framed as AL leader over bribe demand

BNP Activist’s Family Alleges Bribe Demand and False Case in Jashore

Thebangladaily.com – A political dispute and allegations of police misconduct have emerged in Chowgacha, Jashore, after a BNP activist was arrested in a sabotage case that his family says was fabricated following their refusal to pay a 5 lakh taka bribe.

The detained man, Robiul Islam of Guatoli village, has been described by his family and local BNP leaders as a long-time BNP worker. Police, however, maintain that he is linked to an Awami League committee and was detained lawfully during a special operation.

Robiul’s son, Md Alamin, has submitted a written complaint to the Deputy Inspector General of Khulna Range Police. The complaint names Chowgacha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamunur Rahman along with several other police personnel.

Family Says Arrest Followed a Demand for Money

Alamin said police officers came to Robiul’s residence in Guatoli late on Thursday night and took him into custody. He alleged that OC Mamunur Rahman later sought 5 lakh taka in exchange for his father’s release.

The family says Robiul was implicated in a sabotage case after it declined to make the payment. Alamin further alleged that police portrayed his father as a committee leader of the banned Awami League in connection with the case.

The allegation has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the arrest, particularly because the complaint includes documents intended to establish Robiul’s political affiliation with the BNP.

BNP Certificates Submitted With Complaint

Two BNP leaders provided official certification letters supporting the family’s position. Narayanpur Union BNP President Torikul Islam Dablu and Chowgacha Upazila BNP President M.A. Salam each certified that Robiul has remained actively involved with the party for a long period.

Such documents do not by themselves determine the outcome of a criminal investigation, but they are central to the family’s argument that Robiul was wrongly identified in the police case. The dispute now turns on whether investigators can establish the basis on which he was named and arrested.

Local Chowgacha Upazila BNP leaders have strongly criticised the detention. They alleged that the officer-in-charge acted with political prejudice and targeted BNP workers in the area.

The case also highlights the serious consequences that can follow competing claims over political identity. In Bangladesh’s intensely contested local political environment, allegations involving party affiliation can quickly become tied to claims of harassment, selective enforcement and abuse of authority. A credible inquiry is therefore important both for the arrested person and for public confidence in law enforcement.

Police Reject the Accusations

OC Mamunur Rahman denied the claims that he sought money or arranged a false case. He said Robiul is an Awami League committee member and that police detained him during a special drive conducted within the law.

The sharply different accounts leave key issues unresolved: whether any demand for money was made, what evidence police relied upon in identifying Robiul’s political links, and whether the sabotage allegation is supported by the facts of the case.

Additional Superintendent of Police for Crime and Operations Mirajul Islam said the police authorities are examining the matter. The investigation will be expected to review the written complaint, the BNP certification letters, the arrest process and the records connected to the sabotage case.

For Robiul’s family, the immediate concern is the arrest and his continued detention. For local political workers, the episode has become a test of whether complaints involving police conduct and political targeting receive an impartial review.

Need for a Transparent Review

Allegations of bribery against public officials are grave and require careful verification. Equally, accusations that an individual has been falsely identified in a politically sensitive criminal matter should be assessed through evidence rather than party rivalry.

A transparent investigation can help clarify whether Robiul Islam was properly arrested during a legitimate operation or whether the complaint filed by his son reveals wrongdoing by those involved. Until that review is completed, the competing allegations remain unresolved.

The matter has drawn attention in Chowgacha because it combines claims of corruption, political affiliation and criminal prosecution. The police inquiry will be closely watched by Robiul’s relatives, BNP leaders and residents seeking clarity over how the case was initiated and handled.