Police yesterday arrested the Barisal District Sports Association secretary for allegedly opening fire and attempting to murder staff at the Barisal Club.
Shafikul Alam Gulzar, 55, also a member of the district AL committee and a former ward councillor, went to the club on Sunday night, where he allegedly assaulted staff.
Shakhawat Hossain, Kotwali police station in charge, said Gulzar – who owns two hotels in the city - fired four shots from his revolver and shotgun when other staffs and officials at the club tried to resist him.
“The gunfire created panic among the staffs, official, members and guests at the club who informed the police,” said Zakaria Manna, office secretary at the club.
Police arrested Gulzar from his hotel Athena yesterday early in the morning. Contrary to his claims, Gulzar failed to produce documents and proper stocks of bullet and cartridges for his fire arms.
In effect, a written allegation filed by the Barisal Club office secretary was transformed into an attempt to murder case while Sub Inspector Abu Taher lodged another case under arms and explosive acts for the misuse of bullet and cartridges.
Gulzar was sent to jail in the afternoon after metropolitan magistrate Rafikul Islam rejected his bail prayer, police sources said.
Gulzar is a three-time former councillor of Ward 11 of Barisal City Corporation. He was the former treasurer of district BNP and after AL-led 14-party alliance assumed power, he joined the AL.
Advocate Mahbubul Alam Mehedi, Barisal city Jubo Dal secretary and younger brother of Gulzar, was killed in his house in a Rapid Action Battalion raid on October 25, 2005, one of the first victims of extra judicial killing by Rab in the region.