A man named Hanif Mia has been detained in connection with the recent mob attack on former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda.
The incident, which involved public humiliation and physical assault, sparked nationwide outrage after videos went viral on social media.
Inspector (Investigation) AB Siddique of Uttara West Police Station confirmed the arrest to Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper.
According to Siddique, a Bangladesh Army team apprehended Hanif Mia in the Uttara area late Monday night and handed him over to the local police early Tuesday morning.
Hanif Mia is currently in police custody, and legal proceedings are underway, Siddique added.
The incident occurred on Sunday when a group of people forcibly entered Nurul Huda’s residence in Dhaka’s Uttara area. The attackers dragged him outside, forced him to wear a garland of shoes—a symbolic act of humiliation in South Asian culture—and assaulted him, including throwing eggs at him.
Videos of the assault, widely circulated on social media platforms, showed police officers present at the scene but apparently failing to intervene effectively.
Following the incident, police stated that Nurul Huda had been arrested in connection with a case filed by BNP leader Salauddin Khan at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The case reportedly relates to allegations surrounding election irregularities, including the controversial accusation of "daytime votes being counted at night."
On Sunday night, the interim government issued a strong statement condemning the attack. "Any physical assault on an accused person is illegal, contrary to the rule of law, and constitutes a criminal offense. The law enforcement agencies will take appropriate measures against those who created the mob and incited disorder," the government said.
On Monday, a Dhaka court granted a four-day remand for Nurul Huda in connection with the case.
While no major international outlets have reported extensively on this particular incident, the case is gaining attention within Bangladesh’s political landscape, raising concerns over due process, mob justice, and political tensions ahead of future electoral processes.
Global human rights observers and international media such as Al Jazeera, BBC, and The Guardian have previously covered election-related controversies in Bangladesh, especially concerning the integrity of the country’s voting system and the role of the Election Commission.
Further international attention may arise if the situation escalates or draws statements from human rights organizations.
