Former Youth League Leader Arrested After Collecting Nomination Papers in Magura

Former Youth League Leader Detained Over Nomination Paper Issues in Magura

A former Youth League leader was arrested on Monday afternoon while returning home after collecting nomination papers to contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election as an independent candidate in the Magura–1 constituency.

The arrestee, Kutubullah Hossain Mia, is the chairman of Shreekol Union Parishad under Shreepur upazila and a former president of the upazila unit of Jubo League. According to police, he was detained from the Atharokhada area of the Magura–Shreepur regional road.

Police sources said Kutubullah Hossain collected his nomination papers earlier in the day from the office of the District Commissioner, who is also the Returning Officer for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He was arrested while returning home from the office.

Confirming the arrest, Officer-in-Charge of Magura Sadar Police Station, Md. Ashikur Rahman, said Kutubullah was apprehended as an accused identified during the investigation of a sabotage case filed during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Police also claimed that he had been absconding for a long time.

However, members of Kutubullah’s family rejected the police claim. His brother, Shariatullah Hossain Mia, said Kutubullah had already surrendered in court in two cases filed against him after August 5, served time in jail, and was later released on bail. He added that Kutubullah had been performing his duties as Union Parishad chairman normally and moving freely. According to him, the arrest was carried out solely because Kutubullah had collected nomination papers.

Earlier, after collecting the nomination papers, Kutubullah Hossain told journalists that he is currently not affiliated with any political party and intends to contest the election as an independent candidate. He also mentioned that he had previously contested elections in the same constituency as an independent candidate.

Kutubullah Hossain was elected chairman of Shreekol Union Parishad in December 2021. In the 1990s, he served as president of the Shreepur upazila unit of Jubo League but later did not hold any official party position. He contested the 2014 National Parliamentary Election from the same constituency as an independent candidate but was defeated.

Kutubullah’s father, Akbar Hossain Mia, served as the commander of the Shreepur force during the Liberation War of 1971.