Police have sealed Sohel Square Eco Resort in Ratargul, Gowainghat, Sylhet, after fugitive former Sunamganj-1 MP Ranjit Sarkar held a meeting there, triggering widespread controversy.
According to Gowainghat police, the resort was sealed on Wednesday.
Repeated calls to Gowainghat police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Omar Faruk went unanswered. However, duty officer Sub-Inspector Hasib said the Sohel Square Resort in Ratargul was shut down by police around 3am.
Four people, including two resort employees and two Awami League leaders and activists, have been detained in connection with the incident. Police said preparations for filing a case were underway.
According to police and other sources, a lawyer rented the resort on November 8, claiming he would organise an educational tour. More than 150 people arrived at the venue by bus around 3pm and took part in various activities.
Ranjit, joint secretary of Sylhet district Awami League, later appeared at the resort, put up a separate banner, delivered a brief speech and left shortly afterwards.
In a video circulated on social media, he was heard saying that he had held a rally with party leaders and activists after entering the country. He also vowed to continue the struggle until Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh and urged activists to prepare for a final fight.
Ranjit had been in hiding since August 5, 2024, and was reportedly staying in the United Kingdom for a period.
He uploaded the meeting's video to his Facebook account at 4:49pm on Monday. Hours after the footage went viral, an agitated group set fire to his house in Gopaltilla, Sylhet city.
Sunamganj police later arrested Tahirpur upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Tara Mia after identifying him in the video. He was subsequently sent to jail on a court order.
Sources said the meeting was organised under the leadership of local Awami League and Jubo League leaders, including Farid Ahmed Shamim, Aminur Rahman Chowdhury and Masuk Ahmed.
Meanwhile, Ranjit's whereabouts remain unknown. In a WhatsApp conversation with a news outlet, he claimed the meeting was held inside Bangladesh, in his electoral constituency, with only local residents attending.
Acknowledging that the Awami League was banned, he said party leaders would hold programmes wherever they found an opportunity.