Awami League leader Sumon arrested in Lalmonirhat

He is accused in over a dozen cases on charges of murder, extortion and encroachment, police say

Police have arrested Lalmonirhat District Awami League Joint General Secretary Sakhawat Hossain aka Sumon Khan.

He was arrested at 11pm from the Teesta Toll Plaza in the Sadar Upazila.

He has been accused in over a dozen cases on charges of murder, extortion and encroachment, according to AKM Fazlul Haque, Lalmonirhat additional superintendent of police (A Circle).

Law enforcers will bring Sumon to court and petition for remand on Tuesday, he said.

The Criminal Investigation Department of police found over Tk 4.28 billion in transactions in the bank accounts of Sumon, his wife, and an employee at his shop.

CID officials say that Sumon had more than Tk 2.37 billion in his bank account, while his wife had about Tk 44.94 million. An additional Tk 1.87 billion in transactions was conducted from the account belonging Touqir Ahmed Masum, an employee at Sumon’s store. These funds had no legitimate source of income.

“We have received information of Hundi Sumon’s connection to various crimes including smuggling drugs, gold, and currency,” said Mohammad Abdul Hai, assistant superintendent of police with the Lalmonirhat CID.

“He was arrested with the help of the Sadar Police Station. He will be presented to the court and further legal action will be taken.”

Since the fall of the Awami League government, several murder cases were filed against Sumon. On Aug 5, students and the public set fire to his luxury home and business in the Shaheed Minar area of Masterpara. Five students were killed in the fire when they were unable to exit through the automatic doors.

ASP Fazlul said: “After Aug 5, several police stations in Dhaka registered murder cases against him. There are multiple cases against him in Lalmonirhat too.”