Awami League activists on Sunday intercepted a police vehicle and freed Abdul Wahab, president of Sujanagar upazila Awami League in Pabna, shortly after his arrest.
The incident, which resulted in a scuffle leaving eight police officers injured, occurred around 5pm in front of Mathurapur High School in Sujanagar municipality.
Abdul Wahab is a former upazila chairman and a former municipal mayor.
According to the police, he was a fugitive accused in a case related to an attack on students during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July-August last year.
Confirming the incident, Sujanagar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Mostafa said: “Party activists and supporters attacked the police and forcibly took Abdul Wahab away. Eight police officers were injured while trying to resist. A police operation is ongoing to apprehend those involved.”
According to police and local sources, Abdul Wahab left a mosque near his home after performing the Asr prayer. As he reached Mathurapur High School, a team from Sujanagar police station arrested him and placed him in a vehicle.
At that moment, party activists and locals surrounded the police vehicle, demanding his release. When the police refused, they forcefully pulled Wahab out of the vehicle.
Upon hearing the news, hundreds of people gathered, chanting “Joy Bangla” and took him away from police custody.
During the scuffle, eight police officers sustained injuries.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Mortoza Ali Khan told reporters: “Abdul Wahab is a named accused in the case related to the attack on students during the anti-discrimination movement. Based on confidential information, he was arrested in an operation. However, party activists and villagers took him away from the police vehicle.
"Efforts are ongoing to re-arrest him. Legal action will also be taken against those involved in his escape.”
Repeated attempts to contact Abdul Wahab on his mobile phone were unsuccessful, as his number was found switched off.