A significant incident of obstruction of justice occurred in Ishwarganj, Mymensingh, where a leader of the banned Chhatra League was forcibly rescued from police custody. The incident took place on Friday evening near a football field in the Sarisha Union Parishad area. The individual in question, Riazul Alam, also known as Shahin, serves as the 1st Joint General Secretary of the Ishwarganj Upazila Chhatra League.
According to police reports, Riazul Alam is a wanted individual with multiple active cases filed against him at the Ishwarganj Police Station, including charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act and drug-related offenses. Acting on credible intelligence, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Md. Mazharul Islam of the Atharbari Rayerbazar Police Investigation Center conducted an operation to apprehend him. However, the operation faced immediate resistance from local political activists, including members of the BNP and the now-banned Awami League.
The confrontation occurred during a football match organized by the 'Rongtorongo' organization at the Sarisha Dekuarchar Dakhil Madrasa field. The match was inaugurated by Emdadullah Khan Zaman, a joint convener of the local BNP unit. Witnesses reported that as police attempted to secure Riazul, members of the organizing group and local political figures intervened, leading to a scuffle that allowed the suspect to escape custody.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ishwarganj Police Station, Sajjad Roman, confirmed the incident, emphasizing that Riazul faces serious criminal charges, including sabotage and drug trafficking. The police official stated that the obstruction of law enforcement officers while performing their official duties is a grave matter. Authorities are currently working to identify those involved in the rescue attempt and are initiating legal proceedings against them.
The incident has sparked widespread concern in the local community, particularly regarding the unusual collaboration between BNP and banned Awami League activists to protect a suspect. This development has raised questions about the local political climate and the rule of law. In response, law enforcement has increased patrols in the area, and a manhunt is underway to re-arrest the suspect and hold those who obstructed the police accountable.
