Jamaat Activist Arrested with 45 Yaba Tablets in Bogura

A young man was arrested with 45 yaba tablets in Shahjahanpur upazila of Bogura, although local residents identified him as a Jamaat-e-Islami activist while local Jamaat leaders denied that he was a member of the party.

The arrested man was identified as Maruf Hasan, also known as Babu, 35, son of Abdul Jalil of Chupinagar Uttarpara area.

District Detective Branch (DB) police arrested him from in front of Bilasi Medicine Store on Majhira Kalibari Road at around 8:45pm on Wednesday.

According to police, a special anti-drug operation was underway in the area when they received information that a man was waiting there with yaba tablets for sale.

A DB team led by Sub-Inspector Abdul Quddus conducted a raid. Police said Maruf attempted to flee after noticing their presence but was detained. A search of his body allegedly recovered 45 yaba tablets wrapped in a white polythene bag from the front right pocket of his trousers.

Police said the seized tablets weighed a total of 4.5 grams.

According to the DB, Maruf admitted during preliminary questioning that he had been collecting yaba from different areas and selling it in various parts of Bogura for a long time. Police said he was carrying the tablets in the area on Wednesday with the intention of selling them.

DB Sub-Inspector Abdul Quddus said a case had been filed against Maruf at Shahjahanpur Police Station under relevant provisions of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018.

The case statement also said Maruf was injured after falling while allegedly attempting to flee from police during the arrest. He was later given initial medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Shahjahanpur upazila Jamaat secretary Shahidul Islam denied that Maruf was affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami.

“Maruf Hasan is not a member of Jamaat. His name is not listed anywhere in the party,” Shahidul said. He added that merely participating in rallies or meetings after August 5 did not make someone a Jamaat member, saying the party follows an organisational process and does not allow anyone to become a member simply by showing up at its programmes.