Police have arrested controversial content creator RS Fahim from the Mirpur Zoo area in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The arrest took place after a group of students and an agitated crowd surrounded him in front of the zoo, causing the situation to deteriorate. Upon receiving the information, police arrived at the scene and took him into custody.
Mohammad Mustaque Sarker, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Mirpur Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), confirmed the arrest to the TIMES of Bangladesh. He stated that Fahim is an accused in two cases involving murder and attempted murder at Mohammadpur and Gulshan police stations. Police are currently verifying whether there are additional cases filed against him.
Md Jahangir Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shah Ali Police Station, said, “The local public had detained him in front of the Mirpur Zoo. Later, police went to the spot, apprehended him, and brought him to the station”. The OC added that they have received information regarding cases filed against Fahim in various police stations concerning the events of July, which are currently being investigated.
According to eyewitnesses, the crowd and students became agitated upon spotting Fahim in the area. Slogans and arguments broke out regarding his controversial activities and previous stance. When the situation spiralled out of control, the crowd detained him and alerted the police.
Meanwhile, zoo authorities noted that the facility was closed to the public as it was a weekly holiday. Dr Mohammmad Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, Director of Mirpur Zoo, said, “In the afternoon, I learned through the gateman that 30 to 40 people had surrounded RS Fahim at the zoo gate. Later, law enforcement agencies arrived and removed him from the site”.
Video footage circulating on social media showed seven to eight individuals attempting to vandalise RS Fahim’s white car. Prior to this, the agitated student-mass had surrounded the vehicle while it was within the zoo premises, during which time Fahim remained inside the car.
