Six rickshaw pullers detained in Faridpur over alleged August 15 khichuri event

Police in Faridpur detained six rickshaw pullers after they were accused of organising a hotchpotch (khichuri) cooking event allegedly linked to programmes marking August 15, according to labour union leaders.

Police, however, said the men were taken to the station after receiving a complaint but were later found to have no involvement in any political activity.

The six—Harun Sheikh, 54, Majid Sheikh, 56, Anwar Molla, 51, Manowar Molla, 48, Yousuf Sheikh, 45, and his son Rahim Sheikh, 23—were detained around noon on Friday from a market near Dhuldi Rail Gate in Machchar union of Faridpur Sadar upazila.

According to the labour union, preparations were under way to form a regional committee of the Faridpur District Battery-Operated Rickshaw-Van Workers’ Union at Dhuldi Bazar. As part of the event, workers had arranged to cook khichuri.

Union leaders alleged that police intervened after seeing the cooking arrangements, suspecting that the event was part of an Awami League programme marking August 15. The six workers were subsequently taken to the police station.

Siddiqur Rahman, convener of the district battery-operated rickshaw-van workers’ union, said the organisation was entirely non-political and that there was no basis for linking the event to any political programme. He also alleged that the workers had been kept at the police station for an extended period.

Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, disputed the allegation. He said police had taken the men to the station after receiving a complaint, but subsequent verification found no truth in the allegations against them.

“They are innocent rickshaw pullers and will be released soon,” he said.

However, as of 7pm on Saturday, nearly 30 hours after their detention, the six men were still reportedly being held at the police station. Police had not immediately confirmed whether any case had been filed against them.

Labour union leaders have called for their immediate release.