Cox’s Bazar, July 4 (V7N) – The BNP has suspended three of its local leaders in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar, following serious allegations of involvement in a yaba pill looting incident. Additionally, the upazila unit convener of the Chatra Dal, the BNP’s student wing, has resigned from his post citing political persecution and personal distress.
 
According to party sources, the suspensions were made on Wednesday on the grounds of alleged involvement in activities deemed in violation of party discipline. The suspended leaders include Md. Nurul Kabir, convener of the Razar Kul Union Jubo Dal; Danu Mia, general secretary of the same union’s BNP unit; and Mohammad Ismail, president of Ward No. 7 of the local Sramik Dal.
 
Confirming the suspensions, Abul Bashar Babu, general secretary of Ramu Upazila BNP, told the media on Thursday that the disciplinary action was taken independently by the respective party wings based on internal findings.
 
Meanwhile, Chatra Dal upazila convener Sanaullah Selim announced his resignation through a Facebook post on Thursday. In his post, Selim wrote, “I hereby resign from my position as convener of the Ramu Upazila Chatra Dal. I am being subjected to conspiracy and political harassment, which is damaging my social and political life and pushing me towards despair. Therefore, I have taken this decision. Long live Chatra Dal, may the opportunists remain content.”
 
Selim, however, denied any involvement in the yaba looting and claimed he was the target of a smear campaign linked to local political rivalries.
 
The controversy stems from the reported looting of 30,000 yaba pills in Ramu. Several audio recordings related to the incident have recently gone viral on social media, implicating a number of local BNP and Chatra Dal leaders.
 
Allegations suggest that the yaba consignment, reportedly brought from Myanmar, was destined for the home of a man named Monir in the Mandal Para area of Ramu. However, the consignment was intercepted and looted near the Panjegana area in Ward 7 of Razar Kul Union. The drugs were allegedly taken to an abandoned school building and later sold for Tk 28 lakh, which was reportedly distributed among 23 BNP and Chatra Dal activists.
 
Anonymous local BNP sources claim that Selim alone received Tk 1 million from the sale, while others received amounts ranging from Tk 8,000 to Tk 300,000.
 
Following the public circulation of the incident, the local BNP leadership formed a three-member investigation committee. Based on their findings submitted Wednesday, the party suspended the three leaders involved.
 
Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Tayebur Rahman confirmed they were aware of the reported yaba looting incident and were currently investigating.
 
The scandal has intensified scrutiny on local political leadership in Cox’s Bazar, an area often linked with cross-border drug trafficking, and could have broader implications for the party’s image and internal cohesion in the lead-up to future elections.

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