Sohel Mia, the cousin of Abul Kalam Azad – the college student who drew media attention by demonstrating in front of the prime minister’s official residence on Sunday – has no criminal record, Narayanganj police and RAB confirmed.
RAB detained Sohel on Sunday night in Sadipur of Sonargaon for alleged involvement in illegal drug business and handed him over to Sonargaon police.
The police produced him before a court on Monday but did not seek his remand since he has no case against him, Officer-in-Charge Manjur Kader said.
Police’s elite force Rapid Action Battalion also acknowledged that Sohel faces no case, but it alleged that Sohel and his father Nur Uddin had been involved in drug business for the last seven months.
RAB said Azad’s demonstration in front of Ganabhaban and Sohel’s detention were merely a coincidence.
Rights body Ain o Salish Kendra protested RAB’s statement yesterday, urging the government to investigate the matter in a transparent manner.
“RAB’s past records make their claim suspicious,” ASK said in a statement signed by its Executive Director Sultana Kamal.
On Sunday, Azad stood before Ganabhaban with a placard that says “I want justice” to draw the premier’s attention so a locally influential leader who was trying grab their land be brought to the book.
RAB 11 Operation Officer ASP Md Nazim Uddin Al Azad yesterday said that Sohel had been detained from a kitchen market near his house while hanging out with four friends.
The elite force members recovered 100 yaba tablets kept in Sohel’s pocket. The team later raided his house and found 270 more tablets in his father’s living room. Sohel was handed over to Sonargaon police at night.
The RAB official claimed that they had no idea about the protest incident and that the drive the same day was a mere coincidence.
RAB said their prime target was Sohel’s father Nur. But he was not at home during the drive. RAB was closely observing them for the last two months and conducted the drive after being certain about their involvement in the illegal business.
Azad has, however, claimed that he and Sohel – both live in the same house – had been beaten up by the RAB personnel during the operation.
Azad said he left Ganabhaban area when police members had asked him to leave.
