Two brothers arrested in Kushtia over alleged Aug 15 khichuri gathering

Police have arrested two brothers in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia for allegedly trying to organise Awami League activists and cook hotchpotch (khichuri) secretly ahead of August 15.

The arrested are Sohel Rana Paban, chairman of Bahadurpur Union Parishad and vice-president of the upazila Awami Jubo League, and his brother Rubel Mahmud Ratan, a former president of the Bahadurpur Union unit of the Swechasebak League.

Police arrested the two from the Bahadurpur Union Parishad area near Kuchiamora Bazar at around midnight on Friday (August 14).

According to Bheramara police, the brothers had allegedly been involved in covert political activities for some time. Acting on information that they were attempting to gather party activists near the union parishad premises ahead of August 15, police and members of the Kuchiamora police camp conducted a joint operation.

Police said activists were allegedly preparing khichuri and attempting to organise a gathering at the site under the leadership of the two brothers.

Kuchiamora Police Camp in-charge Abdus Salam confirmed the arrests, saying the operation was conducted after police verified information about the planned gathering.

Muhammad Jahedur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bheramara Police Station, said, "The two men were active members of the banned Awami League and were arrested to prevent any deterioration of the law and order situation."

"Further legal action will be taken," he added.