Mizanur Rahman, popularly known as ‘Viral Mizan’ for selling rice with beef for Tk100, was arrested in the capital on Sunday for allegedly obstructing officials from disconnecting an illegal electricity connection at his shop.
Kafrul police arrested Mizan from the Agargaon area around noon and later showed him arrested in a case filed over allegations including obstruction of government duties.
He was subsequently sent to court.
Kafrul Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed the arrest.
He said the electricity authorities were conducting a regular drive to disconnect illegal connections at roadside shops and other structures.
“As part of the drive, an executive magistrate of the electricity department and other officials went to Mizan’s shop in Agargaon to disconnect an illegal power connection. At one point, Mizan allegedly became aggressive towards them,” the OC said.
According to police, Mizan also assaulted some city corporation workers and police personnel during the incident. He was then detained and taken to the police station.
Police said he was shown arrested in a case filed over obstruction of government duties and other related allegations.
Tejgaon GRO branch ASI Afran Haider Masud said ‘Viral Mizan’, who gained popularity on social media for selling rice with beef for Tk 100, was not produced before the court on Sunday.
Instead, Mizan was sentenced by a mobile court, he said. However, Masud said he was unaware of the details of the punishment.
How Mizan became ‘viral’
Mizanur Rahman became popular on social media after opening a small roadside rice shop in Agargaon.
His shop offered a plate of rice, lentils, potatoes and a piece of beef for Tk 100, drawing widespread attention online.
The shop was named “Nijer hate loia khaiyen, 14 bar niya khaiyen” (Take it with your own hands, take it 14 times). It later became popularly known on social media as the “poor man’s buffet”.
Videos showing the way food was served and customers ate at the shop spread widely on social media, making Mizanur Rahman known as ‘Viral Mizan’.
