Md. Lavlu Sheikh,  Lalmonirhat

In response to several media reports titled “Tk 14 Lakh Looted at Teesta Toll Plaza in Front of Police Patrol”, the Lalmonirhat District Police has issued an official press release denying any incident of robbery or vandalism at the Teesta Road Bridge toll plaza.

Meanwhile, based on a complaint filed by the toll collection contractor, police from Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station conducted a raid in the Gokunda area last Friday night and arrested two accused named in the FIR. The arrestees are Abu Bakkar (48), son of Saheb Uddin of Teesta West Guriadah area (Accused No. 2), and Hasanul alias Mafu (40), son of Akbar Ali from Teesta Dalalpara area (Accused No. 5).

According to the police press release, on April 23, 2025, at around 3:30 PM, a motorcycle with three riders approached the Teesta toll plaza under Lalmonirhat Sadar Thana. When the toll collector signaled them to stop, the motorcycle driver Mahfuzur Rahman Raju refused to pay the toll. A verbal altercation ensued, followed by physical scuffles witnessed by other toll staff. The Highway-1 unit's on-duty SI quickly intervened and resolved the matter through mutual understanding.

However, later that evening at around 7:30 PM, Mahfuzur Rahman allegedly returned to the toll plaza with 25–30 individuals on motorcycles and auto-rickshaws. They reportedly assaulted toll employee Jewel, causing a head injury, and also attacked the plaza manager. Police arrived shortly afterward and brought the situation under control. The injured toll staff were sent to the hospital for treatment.

Importantly, no vandalism or robbery occurred at the toll plaza, the press release clarifies.

A case has been filed at Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station (Case No. 62), which is currently under investigation. Police also confirmed that the accused Mahfuzur Rahman Raju (40) is the son of Abdus Samad Bepari of Mostofi area, Gokunda Union, Lalmonirhat Sadar. According to BNP’s local leadership, Mahfuzur Rahman holds the position of Joint General Secretary of Gokunda Union BNP.

On the other hand, the case was filed by Md. Nazmul Alam alias Nazu (55), a member of the Board of Directors of Messrs. Rana Construction—the officially appointed contractor for toll collection at the Teesta Toll Plaza. Notably, Nazmul Alam is also the President of Rangpur District Jubo Dal (BNP’s youth wing).

Lalmonirhat Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam and Officer-in-Charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar Thana Md. Nurun Nabi jointly stated that misleading information had been published by some media outlets, which prompted the district police to issue the press release to provide clarity on the actual events.

When asked, OC Md. Nurun Nabi confirmed that the case was officially filed last Thursday and that two named accused have already been arrested. The investigation is ongoing.