Police have detained Advocate Zeenat Sohana Chowdhury, Chittagong divisional leader of the Awami League-backed NGO Suchinta Foundation, from the Atuar Depot area of the port city early Tuesday.
Zeenat, a former member of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), was picked up from a residence under Bayezid Bostami police station around 1am, said its officer-in-charge Md Arifur Rahman.
She has been named as an accused in a case filed over a clash between police and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari on December 4 last year on the Chittagong Court premises.
The case, filed with Kotwali police station, names 29 people, including Zeenat and leaders of the Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, and Iskcon. Additionally 40–50 unnamed people were also implicated.
Hailing from Raozan upazila, Zeenat had submitted a nomination paper for a reserved women’s seat on behalf of the Awami League during the 11th national parliamentary election.
She is known as a close aide of former foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.
According to sources, she previously served as a member of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
She also chaired Farmin Group of Industries Ltd and was a member of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Her husband, Md Imran, currently serves as president of the Florida chapter of the Awami League in the United States and is a former general secretary.
He also served as joint general secretary of Chhatra League at Chittagong University.
