An expelled ward-level leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday alleged that the Bagha police in Rajshahi framed him as he refused to pay Tk 1 lakh in bribe.
The expelled BNP leader, Tabibur Rahman Sumon, made the allegation at a press conference at Rajshahi City Press Club.
Tabibur, who served as the member secretary of 23 no ward unit of Rajshahi city BNP, and another individual, Md Sonet, were arrested by the police on July 8 at a location in the Bagha municipal area.
On the following day, the police produced the duo before a Rajshahi court, alleging that the police had seized 20 grams of hemp from Tabibur and 100 yaba pills from Sonet. The court sent them to jail on the day.
Tabibur was released from jail on bail on Friday.
He claimed that he was a potato trader and went to Bagha on July 8 to collect dues.
He claimed that Sonet, an acquaintance from his locality, invited him to take tea and police arrived there shortly afterward and arrested them.
He said that the police recovered yaba pills from Sonet, a drug peddler with at least 17 cases against him.
Tabibur claimed that the police demanded Tk 1 lakh in bribe for his release, and he gave his political identity and refused to pay any bribe as he was not involved in any crime. 聽
鈥楲ater, the police claimed to have recovered 20 grams of hemp from me, which is completely false,鈥� he claimed.
After his arrest, Rajshahi city BNP expelled Sumon from the party.
鈥業 neither took nor sold drugs. The party acted without hearing my side. I urge Rajshahi city BNP top leaders to conduct a proper investigation and revoke my expulsion,鈥� he said.
He demanded the withdrawal of the case against him and punishment for the police officers involved in framing him.
Bagha police station officer-in-charge AFM Asaduzzaman denied the allegations.