Man Arrested Over ‘Sniper’ Comment on Facebook During PM Tarique Rahman’s Rajshahi Visit

A man named Abu Bakar Siddique has been arrested over a Facebook comment referring to a “sniper” in connection with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Rajshahi. A relevant security official said the man was handed over to the police following his detention. Police have not yet released further details about him.

Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Ishtiaq, commander of SRB-5, confirmed the arrest.

Earlier on Tuesday, a special aircraft carrying the prime minister landed at Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi at around 3:00 pm. Tarique Rahman then travelled from the airport into the city on a bus belonging to Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET). Large crowds gathered along both sides of the road to greet him, and the prime minister waved back from the moving bus.

A Facebook page named “The Beauty of Rajshahi” subsequently posted a photograph of the RUET bus used during the prime minister’s visit. In the comments section, an account bearing the name Abu Bakar Siddique wrote: “What a great opportunity! There was only a lack of a sniper.”

The comment circulated widely on social media and raised concerns among Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders. Law enforcement agencies then moved to identify the account holder and arrested him following an operation.

Advocate Ali Ashraf Masum, vice-president of the Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP, said the comment had also caused concern among party members. He stressed the importance of the prime minister’s security and called for an investigation to determine whether the remark indicated a threat against him.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman described the comment as deeply concerning, potentially criminal and irresponsible. He said the police were treating the matter seriously and would take legal action in accordance with the law.