With police in hot pursuit, man drowns in Kaptai Lake

Allegedly chased by police, an activist of Projonmo League, a pro-Awami League organisation, jumped into Kaptai Lake in Rangamati and drowned on Wednesday. The victim is Md Ziaul Haque, 36, son of late Nazmul Haque, a resident of Shantinagar village at Asambasti. He hailed from Munshiganj district. Locals said Ziaul Haque dived in the lake near Tabalchhari Bazar in Rangamati town as a team from Kotowali Police Station, that was conducting a drive there, chased him. “He jumped into the lake to escape arrest by police,” witnesses said. Rangamati district unit of Awami League and its associated bodies brought out a procession in the district headquarters in protest against Ziaul Haque’s death and staged a rally in front of its office there. Holding police responsible for the killing, they issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the transfer of Rangamati superintendent of police and the officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, or else they will announce tougher programme, according to a news agency.