Police detained a young man carrying a pistol-like object from a roadside rally attended by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam and Whip M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu near Uttara Ganabhaban in Natore on Friday.
The object was later found to be a plastic toy pistol, police said.
Natore Additional Superintendent of Police Md Iftekhar Alam disclosed the information at a press briefing held at Natore Sadar Police Station around 7:30pm.
The detained youth was identified as Shams Alamin Tamim, son of late Shamsul Alam of Kanaikhali area in Natore town.
According to police, Tamim was moving around suspiciously at the rally venue after the minister and the whip visited Uttara Ganabhaban.
After the two leaders left the stage, police searched him and recovered the pistol-like object.
After examination, police confirmed that the item was not a firearm but a plastic-made toy pistol. However, authorities are questioning why he was carrying such an object near a sensitive location during a political programme involving VIPs.
Earlier, after being detained around 4:35pm, Tamim claimed that the pistol belonged to his father and was licensed.
He also said he was carrying it for his personal safety and identified himself as a student.
Police said the recovered object was not a weapon, but they are investigating the reason behind carrying it to a sensitive area and whether there was any other motive.
