Former MP Shirajul Islam arrested in Dhaka

The former Narsingdi-3 lawmaker goes to a university in Mohammadpur as its chairman for an event, where students detain him and notify the army

Former Narsingdi-3 lawmaker Shirajul Islam Mollah has been arrested in Dhaka.

He was apprehended by the army outside the People's University of Bangladesh in Mohammadpur’s Asad Gate area on Monday evening, said Mohammadpur Police Station chief Ali Ifthekhar Hasan.

He said, “Shirajul had gone to attend an event at the university as its chairman. The students detained him and informed the army. Upon receiving information from the army, we brought him in.”

Shirajul faces two cases in the Narayanganj districts of Araihazar and Fatullah.

Police in Fatullah have been notified and will take custody of the former MP.

Shirajul left Bangladesh for India on Aug 5 amid public protests against the government. Since then, numerous influential leaders and MPs of the Awami League have been arrested.

A businessman, Shirajul is a praesidium member of the Bangladesh Awami Youth League and vice president of the Narsingdi District Awami League.

In the 12th national election, he defeated Fazle Rabbi Khan, the Awami League candidate, in the Narsingdi-3 constituency.

He had previously been elected as an independent candidate in the 10th national poll in 2014 but lost in the 11th parliamentary election in 2018.

His wife Ferdousi Islam is the president of the Shibpur Upazila Women’s Awami League and won the Shibpur Upazila elections in May.