For Asking For Aid: UP chairman beats up farmer, gets arrested

Police yesterday arrested Abdus Sattar, chairman of Arjunpur Baramahati union parishad, for allegedly assaulting a farmer who called the hotline for relief in Natore's Lalpur upazila.

Superintendent of Natore police Liton Kumar Saha announced the arrest of Sattar at a press briefing in his office.

The farmer, Shahidul Islam of Angaripara village, had fallen upon hard times during the coronavirus outbreak and the ensuing countrywide shutdown, and so called the hotline 333 for relief on April 10.

Angered by the incident, Sattar called him to the union parishad on April 12, took him to a room and beat him up, said Lalpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ummul Bani Dutty.

The incident went viral and the Lalpur UNO issued a show-cause notice on April 13.  

On April 15, farmer Shahidul filed a case in this regard with Lalpur Police Station accusing chairman Sattar, UP members Reza and Md Rubel.

Md Shahriar, deputy commissioner of the district, said he had written to the local government ministry, urging it to take action in this regard.

SP Liton said a police team arrested the chairman from Pabna's Ishwardi upazila yesterday morning .

Among others, Abul Hasnat, additional SP of Natore Sadar Circle, Haron-ar- Rashid, additional SP of Baraigram Circle, and Jahangir Alam, OC of Natore Sadar Police Station, were present at the press briefing.