2 arrested in Narayanganj for selling national flags with Kalima

Police have arrested two youths in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, for allegedly selling national flags altered with the 'Kalima' via an online platform. They were later sent to jail by a court under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The court passed the order on Friday afternoon (July 3). Earlier on Thursday night (July 2), Siddhirganj police detained the duo.

The arrestees have been identified as Niamat Ullah, 25, from Sarail Upazila in Brahmanbaria, and Md. Siddique, 26, from Sherpur Sadar Upazila.

Tarek Al Mehdi, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime-Ops) of Narayanganj, stated that black-and-white Kalima flags, as well as the red-and-green national flags with the Kalima inscribed on them, were recently hoisted in various areas of Narayanganj. As these flags are considered a distortion of the national flag, the police initiated a serious investigation into the matter.

According to the police, a gang based in the Mitali Market area under Ward No. 2 of Narayanganj City Corporation was manufacturing national flags with Arabic inscriptions of the Kalima and selling them online. After such flags were spotted flying in different parts of Siddhirganj, police detained the two youths as suspects.

Mohammad Emdadul Haque, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Siddhirganj Police Station, said that primary investigations revealed they were selling the modified national flags through an online page. They were subsequently arrested under Section 54 and presented before the court, which ordered them to be sent to jail.

The OC added that law enforcement is currently investigating whether there is any other motive or an organized group involved in these activities.