A local Awami League leader drowned after being chased by police in Charislampur area under Bijoynagar upazila in Brahmanbaria in the early hours of yesterday.
The deceased was identified as Hasan Ullah Sardar, 65, president of ward no 1 of AL under Charislampur union.
Local people said a team of police had conducted a drive in the area to arrest the accused in a case filed in connection with an attack on madrasa teachers and students and members of Tablighi Jamaat by some miscreants at a local mosque on Thursday evening.
Being chased by police personnel, Hasan fell into a water boy and died. Later, locals found his floating body.
But family members of the victim claimed that police beat Hasan to death during the drive.
Hundreds of Sunni Tablighi Jamaat leaders and activists blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Chandura area from noon to 2pm, protesting the death.
The blockade created a 15km-long tailback on the highway from Shahbazpur to Madhobpur, causing sufferings for people.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Bashirul Haque and Additional Police Super of Ashuganj Sadar Circle Shah Alam rushed to the spot and tried to withdraw the blockade, but failed.
The agitators withdrew the blockade with a demand of unconditional release of 17 Sunni Tablighi Jamaat leaders and trial of the killers of Hasan.
Bijoynagar Chandura Union Parishad Chairman Shamim Chowdhury said, “All locals demanded punishment of the killers of Hasan.”
Upazila Sunni Jamaat General Secretary Nurul Mustafa and Vice-President Sayed Naim Uddin said the protesters had threatened to wage tougher movement if their demands were not met.
Officer-in-charge of Bijoynagar police station Rasul Ahmed Nizami said, “They withdrew blockade after getting assurance that their demand would be fulfilled.”
