Police have finally arrested Abdul Wahab, president of the Sujanagar Upazila Awami League and former upazila chairman of Pabna, who was snatched from a police vehicle after an attack by his supporters chanting the "Joy Bangla" slogan. In connection with the incident, police have arrested a total of 12 individuals at different times.
On Wednesday (February 5) morning, Abdul Wahab was apprehended during a raid at Gajnar Beel in Mathurapur, under Vayna Union of Sujanagar Upazila.
Abdul Wahab is the president of Sujanagar Upazila Awami League, a former chairman, and a former municipal mayor. He was a fugitive accused in multiple cases filed over attacks on students during the anti-discrimination student movement last July-August.
Confirming the arrest, Sujanagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Mostafa stated that Wahab was hiding in a house at Gajnar Beel. Based on confidential information, a raid was conducted around 7:00 AM, leading to the arrest of Wahab and another individual. Prior to this, 11 others had been arrested in connection with the same incident.
However, local sources reported that after being snatched from police custody, Abdul Wahab later contacted the police himself to protect his followers from further legal action and retaliation. Following negotiations, he surrendered to the police at Gajnar Beel after the Fajr prayer, upon which the police took him into custody and transported him to the station.
Earlier, on the afternoon of Saturday (February 2), police arrested Abdul Wahab in front of Mathurapur High School in Sujanagar Municipality. Immediately afterward, Awami League activists attacked the police vehicle while chanting "Joy Bangla" slogans and forcefully freed Wahab from custody.
During the incident, eight police personnel were injured. The following day, police filed a case against 64 named individuals and 200-300 unidentified persons. In subsequent raids, 11 suspects were arrested. Following the arrests, Jamaat-BNP activists organized separate protest processions, demanding the removal of the officer-in-charge (OC) and issuing a three-day ultimatum.
