Police have arrested the main suspect accused of issuing death threats against National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abdul Hannan Masud in Noakhali’s Hatia upazila.
Israt Raihan Ome was arrested around 11pm on Saturday from the Nondo Road area in the upazila. He is son of Abdul Halim Azad, a former chairman of Charishwar union in Hatia.
According to police and locals, following the arrest, Hatia upazila Jubo Dal President Ismail Hossain Elias allegedly threatened the officer‑in‑charge of Hatia Police Station to secure the suspect’s release from custody. This development has intensified tensions in the area.
Ome is accused of threatening NCP candidate Abdul Hannan Masud for Noakhali‑6, Hatia, through social media. Shamsul Tibriz, uncle of Masud and NCP’s Hatia upazila chief coordinator, filed a general diary on the night of 18 December.
In addition to Ome, the GD named six other accused — Rupok Nandi, 25; Abdul Halim Azad, 46; Prem Lal, 25; Nur Hossain Rahim, 26; Babulal, 32; and Omar Faruk, 32.
Hatia Police Station’s officer‑in‑charge Md Saiful Alam said police began investigating the matter immediately after the GD was filed.
He added, “After scrutinising the evidence, we arrested the main accused, Israt Raihan Ome. Legal action is underway against the other named individuals as well.”
Police said further investigation is ongoing as the incident has raised serious concerns over political intimidation and threats.
