Police arrested 17 activists of Islamist outfit Allahar Dal at Malibari village under Gaibandha Sadar upazila yesterday. Acting on a tip-ff, the law enforcers from Gaibandha Sadar Police Station raided the house of Abu Bakker Siddique where the activists of the Islamist party were holding a "secret" meeting.The arrestees are Nizam Uddin, Ferdous, Rafiqul Islam, Jahangir Alam, Abu Bakker Siddique, Zahurul Islam, Sadequr Rahman, Mozahar Ali, Taslim Uddin, Laltu Mia, Anwarul Islam, Jahurul Alam, Salimuddin, Osman, Raju Mia, Nizamuddin and Tofazzal. Police said nine of the arrestees hail from Sunderganj upazila, while the rest from Gaibandha Sadar upazila.
Locals said the Allahar Dal activists used to hold meetings at the house on Saturdays for two hours from 7:00am to 9:00am with its leader Nizamuddin in the chair. Nizamuddin told police that they carried out their activities in Dhaperhat under Sadullapur upazila for a few months. After being driven out from Dhaperhat by the locals, they took shelter at Malibari village. Police produced the arrested Allahar Dal activists before the court that sent them to jail.