Highway blocked for 2 hours demanding AL leader’s release

Awami League leaders and activists blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for two hours demanding the release of a local leader of the party. Members of Detective Branch (DB) of police detained Mahtab Uddin, chief election coordinator of both the district Awami League general secretary and Sreepur municipality mayor, in possession with 200 pieces of yaba tablets around 3:30am on Thursday. Hearing the news, local leaders and activists of the ruling party took to the street around 5:30am, suspending transport movement on the busy Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Later, they withdrew the blockade around 7:30am on assurance from police that the Awami League leader would be released. Sreepur municipality councilor Habibullah claimed that DB policemen detained Mahtab on false charges. Police detained seven people, including councilor Habibullah, from the blockade programme. Gazipur district DB police Officer-in-Charge Amir Hossain said preparation of registering a case against Mahtab was underway.