Jamaat leader among 6 held over theft of bricks from govt road project

A mobile court has arrested six people, including a Juba Jamaat leader, for allegedly stealing bricks from a government road development project in Jokiganj upazila, Sylhet.

The arrests came after locals lodged a complaint that around 15 lakh bricks had gone missing from the road under the cover of darkness. The drive, led by the upazila executive officer, recovered several lakh bricks from Munshi Bazar area in Koskonokpur union on Thursday, March 5.

Those arrested include Mahfuzul Islam Chowdhury, joint organising secretary of Jokiganj upazila Juba Jamaat.

Locals said Chowdhury was seen with the local MP recently. His alleged involvement in the theft has sparked criticism, with many calling it a case of "darkness under the lamp".

The road from Munshi Bazar Madrasha to the North Aiyor BGB camp was repaired in 2021 under the herringbone bond method. As the Water Development Board now undertakes work on the Surma river embankment, soil filling on the road required removing the bricks. While some bricks were kept at the madrasha field, a large quantity was allegedly stolen.

Abu Yusuf Mohammad filed a written complaint with the UNO on Wednesday. Following this, the task force conducted the drive.

Abidur Rahman, president of Jokiganj upazila Juba Jamaat, claimed it was a misunderstanding and that Chowdhury had good intentions.

Jokiganj UNO Masudur Rahman said the six have been arrested and a regular case will be filed. Counting of the recovered bricks is under way.