Fakhrul Anwar, an Awami League leader and the younger brother of the late Rofikul Anwar, a former member of parliament from Fatikchhari, was arrested from a community center in Chattogram during his son’s wedding ceremony.
The arrest was confirmed by Chattogram City Police’s Deputy Commissioner (North), Muhammad Faisal Ahmed, at around 11:30 PM on Saturday (February 1). He told Liberty News, “Fakhrul Anwar was arrested from a wedding ceremony at a community center in the city. He has been taken to the police station, and a case against him is being verified.”
In response to a query, he added, “We had been monitoring the situation as soon as we received the news. Leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement were also present at the event.”
It has been reported that Fakhrul Anwar’s son got married to the granddaughter of former Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor M. Manjur Alam. The wedding was held at the Navy Convention Hall in the Tigerpass area on Saturday night. The current mayor of Chattogram, Dr. Shahadat Hossain, was also present as a guest.
Although former Mayor M. Manjur Alam attended the wedding, it is reported that he quickly left the convention center amid the incident.
An eyewitness stated that around 9 PM, more than a hundred young men gathered outside the community center. They began chanting, “My brother is in the grave, why is the killer outside?” The group then confined Fakhrul Anwar. Police and military personnel arrived at the scene and arrested him.
News on social media indicated that former MP Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandari, chairman of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, and recently former MP Khadijatul Anwar Soni were present at the wedding. Khadijatul Soni is Fakhrul Anwar’s niece.
However, several eyewitnesses confirmed that neither of the two individuals mentioned attended the wedding. But many leaders and activists from the Chattogram North District Awami League were present. The situation escalated, causing most to flee.
Police officer Muhammad Faisal Ahmed told Liberty News, “There were rumors that former MP Khadijatul Anwar Soni was present, but she was not there.”
LND/SAKIB
