Police have arrested Abul Kashem, a 50-year-old BNP leader, in connection with a case alleging an attempt to occupy government land in Hatiya, an island upazila of Noakhali. The arrest was made in Dhaka earlier on Monday, January 19, and confirmed later that night by Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam. Kashem, also known as Kashem Dubai, is the son of Nur Ahmed from Ward 3 of Hatiya Municipality and a former organizational secretary of the local BNP unit.

According to the case statement, a group had been trying for a long time to illegally occupy government khas land near the Goltola tourism center in Burirchar Union’s Rahmat Bazar area. On January 8, land officials visited the site after receiving complaints that the accused were showing fake documents to sell land to landless people. The group allegedly demanded Tk 2 crore in extortion and threatened violence if the demand was not met.

Local administration and police later conducted an operation to control the situation, detaining two people while others fled. Police said Kashem faces charges of obstruction of government work, extortion, fraud, and attempted land grabbing.