Arrest of BCL central leader sparks protests in Narsingdi

Detective branch (DB) of police yesterday arrested Chhatra League (BCL) central committee vice president SM Qayum in an arms case.

Qayum, also an adviser to Narsingdi Town Power Loom Workers' Cooperative Association and former general secretary of Narsingdi Government College Students' Union was nabbed from his West Kandirpara residence in the town at around 3 am.

Workers in more than 500 power loom factories in the district town stopped work from yesterday morning in protest of the arrest. Workers, students and local people brought out series of processions demanding his release.

Police and agitated workers locked in chase and counter chase in Narsingdi Old Bus Stand area.

Police said, constable Tara Miah recently filed an arms case with Raipura police station against Qayum as a sequel to an 'unpleasant incident' while he was campaigning for incumbent post and telecommunications minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu for election to Jatiya Sangsad.