Police in Chatkhil, Noakhali, have been accused of detaining an elderly father after failing to apprehend his son during a raid. The incident occurred on Tuesday (July 2) evening in Sanokhali village of Noakhola Union, Chatkhil Upazila.

According to local sources, Sifat Islam, a resident of Sanokhali, has been in hiding for a long time after being accused in a false case. Allegedly, Nazrul Islam, a local influential figure from the same union, has been harassing Sifat by implicating him in a fabricated drug trafficking case due to prior enmity.

Hanifur Rahman, president of the voluntary organization Sanokhali Manobotar Bondhu, told the media, “This is clearly a case of political harassment stemming from personal disputes. Sifat was an active member of our organization. We’ve contacted the police regarding this matter, but no resolution has been reached due to Nazrul Islam’s influence. We demand that the case against Sifat be withdrawn and his family be spared from further harassment.”

Attempts to reach the accused, Nazrul Islam, for comments were unsuccessful. When contacted, he briefly responded, “I am in Dhaka, and I dont know about the issues,” before ending the call. Subsequent calls to his number went unanswered, and he did not respond to text messages either.

Following a court order to confiscate Sifat’s belongings, police raided his house on July 2. During the operation, an argument ensued between the officers and Sifat’s father, Mozammel Haque. The police reportedly confiscated household items, including a refrigerator, washing machine, and television. When Mozammel protested, he was detained.

Sifat’s mother, Nazma Akter, said, “All the items in the house belong to my husband, Mozammel Haque. Despite providing proof of ownership, the police forcibly took our belongings. When my husband objected, they arrested him.”

Neighbor Firoz Alam commented, “Sifat has been falsely accused and is in hiding. His elderly parents live alone and are facing continuous harassment because of this case. Now the police have even detained his father, which is extremely unfortunate.”

Chatkhil Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC), Emdadul Haque, stated, “Mozammel Haque was detained for obstructing police duties. A case will be filed in this regard.”

The incident has sparked widespread criticism in the area, with many calling for justice for Sifat and his family.