Rezzakul Islam Raju, a prohibited Awami League leader from Bogura's Shibganj who had previously escaped from police custody along with his handcuffs, has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka.
Raju, who serves as the organizational secretary of the upazila Awami League and is a former vice-chairman of the upazila parishad, was arrested from the Nabinagar area in Savar on Wednesday evening. He was later handed over to Shibganj Police Station in Bogura early on Thursday and produced before a Bogura court in the afternoon.
The arrest was confirmed by Squadron Leader Firoz Ahmed, the commander of RAB-12's Crime Prevention Specialized Company (CPSC) camp in Bogura.
According to police, a total of 14 cases, including two murder charges, are under investigation against Raju for his alleged involvement in violence during July and August. He has been a fugitive since early August of last year.
This arrest comes after a major incident on October 4, when Raju was initially arrested by police from a wedding in his native village, Chak Bholakha. However, on the way to the police station, his associates allegedly attacked the police and freed him from custody, handcuffs and all.
Following that escape, Sub-Inspector Abdullah Al Mamun was withdrawn for alleged negligence. A three-member probe committee was also formed by the district police, headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (Admin and Finance) Asaduzzaman.
A case was filed in connection with the attack, naming 20 individuals and 200-250 unidentified people. Police later arrested 21 people, including 11 women, in subsequent raids. The incident had reportedly left the Chak Bholakha village largely deserted.
Police officials have stated that they will seek a remand order for the arrested leader.
