Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali, arrested former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Zakir Hossain Farazi on Saturday afternoon over allegations that he seriously injured lawyer Md Samiul Alim with a machete. He was detained from his home in the Subidkhali area of the upazila headquarters. Police said Farazi was also wanted under an arrest warrant in a drug case.

Farazi, 44, is a former general secretary of Mirzaganj Upazila Chhatra Dal and former joint convener of Swechchhasebak Dal. Alim filed a case at Mirzaganj police station on Saturday naming Farazi as the main accused, along with four to five unidentified people. Police and the complaint said Farazi had been arrested with yaba tablets on February 7 and was the sole named accused in the subsequent narcotics case.

Alim had been appointed as Farazi’s lawyer in that case. A court issued the warrant after Farazi failed to appear on August 9. Alim alleged Farazi attacked him at a tea stall after being informed of the order. He received initial treatment locally and was later admitted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Police said the attack case is under process.