18 arrested over Rajbari shrine attack

Police have arrested 18 people in connection with the demolition of the shrine of Nurul Haque, popularly known as Nural Pagla, the torching of his exhumed body, and subsequent attacks on law enforcement in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district.

Among the arrestees is local mosque imam Latif, who had been in hiding since the September 5 incident. He was detained from a char area in Manikganj early Tuesday morning.

According to the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser, the 18 suspects face charges including shrine vandalism, exhuming and burning the body, engaging in clashes, committing murder, looting property, and attacking police vehicles.

On Monday night, a murder case was filed with Goalanda Ghat Police Station by Md Azad Molla, 55, whose son was killed in clashes linked to the violence.

The unrest began on September 5, when several hundred people under the banner of Iman-Aqeedah Rokkha Committee stormed the ‘darbar sharif’ of Nural Pagla after Juma prayers, exhumed his body, and set it ablaze. The attack sparked sporadic clashes between his followers and locals, leaving one person dead and many others injured, including a journalist.

Earlier, Sub-inspector Selim Molla filed a case with Goalanda Ghat Police Station, accusing 3,000 to 3,500 unidentified people of attacking police, obstructing government duties, vandalising property, and arson.