A youth has been detained over a Facebook comment stating “only a sniper was missing” in reference to a Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) bus used by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his visit to Rajshahi.
Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Ishtiaq, commander of SRB-5, confirmed the detention on Thursday morning.
“For now, I can only say that the individual has been detained,” he said. “He is currently in the custody of the police’s Detective Branch (DB). We will have to wait for further details.”
When contacted, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was handling the matter.
He said the SRB had detained the youth at the DMP’s request and handed him over to the agency. Further details would be provided by the DMP.
On Tuesday afternoon, at around 3pm, the prime minister arrived at Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi aboard a military aircraft. From the airport, he travelled into the city in a Ruet bus.
He used the same bus to attend a rally at the historic Madrasa Ground and visit a temple during the Durga Puja celebrations before returning to the airport.
A Facebook page titled “The Beauty of Rajshahi” published a photo of the bus used during the visit. Its caption questioned why the prime minister had used a Ruet bus instead of the red-and-green bulletproof bus and asked whether people in Rajshahi knew about the arrangement.
In the comments section, a user named Abu Bokor Siddique wrote: “Oh! What a great opportunity—the only thing missing was a sniper.”
The comment drew concern from BNP leaders over its wording and implications.
After the comment circulated on Facebook, law enforcement agencies launched an operation to identify the user. Abu Bokor was subsequently detained.
Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP President Mamunur Rashid Mamun said: “Making such remarks about the prime minister is completely unacceptable. To maintain the country’s peace, order and stability, it is essential to conduct a proper investigation into the incident and bring the person involved to justice.