Police have arrested Alamgir Siddiqui in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, over allegations involving the removal of government-seized sand, operation of a sand syndicate and a recent clash in Chhagalnaiya. According to police sources, he was arrested in an operation on Friday with assistance from the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch. Chhagalnaiya police station officer-in-charge Md Abu Taher confirmed the arrest and said further details would be provided later.

The case gained attention after about 223,830 cubic feet of sand was allegedly removed from a government-seized stockpile in the Shubhapur area of Chhagalnaiya. The sand had been seized under a court order. Police began an investigation after a case was filed, seized several trucks carrying allegedly stolen sand and arrested truck drivers. Local residents, however, had alleged that the alleged main perpetrators remained beyond reach.

Separate clashes, attacks and gunfire also occurred between two BNP factions in Chhagalnaiya over control and dominance in the sand business. Upazila BNP leader Riaz Uddin Majumdar Tipu was injured. A case named 14 people, with Siddiqui listed as the principal accused. Counter-allegations say Tipu assaulted Siddiqui’s supporters, though both sides deny the accusations.