The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Naogaon

Matiar Rahman alias Mantu Bhai, chief of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (Lal Pataka), condemned to death three years ago for murder, was arrested from a remote village of Manda upazila early Sunday morning.

Informing about the prized arrest, police super Mofazzal Hossain told newsmen in the afternoon that Matiar, 56, was holding a secret meeting with his 10 or 12 cadres at Turukbaria school ground. On tip off, a police team headed by ASP Sohel Reza cordoned them and arrested Matiar. Others, however, managed to slip away in the darkness, said the SP.

He was undergoing interrogation.

Matiar succeeded Dr Mizanur Rahman alias Tutul, chairman of the outlawed party, who was killed in a gun battle with police at Raninagar on July 27.

Naogaon and adjoining districts are heavily infested by cadres of divided factions of the underground PBCP who are engaged in class struggle.

Rajshahi court awarded Matiar the death penalty in absentia on July 25, 2005 for the murder of UP chairman Golam Rabbani at Bagmara.

In 2006, the government had declared a prize of Tk one lakh for the arrest or clue to arrest of Matiar.

He faces trial in a number of criminal cases including the murder of Salamat Hossain, JCD leader of Atrai, and Mansur Mridha, BNP leader of Manda.

Matiar Rahman hails from Krishnapur village of Raninagar upazila.