Following public outrage and mounting pressure from students, police rearrest SI Sukanta Das; demonstrators demand resignation of Khulna Police Commissioner over alleged mishandling of the case.

Sub-Inspector Sukanta Das, who was previously handed over to police by an angry mob but later released under controversial circumstances, has now been rearrested. He was detained Thursday morning from Alamdanga in Chuadanga district. The arrest was confirmed by Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Md. Zulfikar Ali Haider.

The incident has reignited widespread protests in Khulna, particularly among students. By Thursday afternoon at 4:00 PM, agitated students gathered in front of the KMP headquarters, surrounding the building and launching a wave of vociferous demonstrations demanding the resignation of the KMP Commissioner. Protesters chanted slogans such as, “Abu Sayeed-Muggdha, our fight isn't over,” “We’ve shed blood, we’ll shed more,” and “One demand, one goal—Police Commissioner must resign!”

The outrage stems from an incident on Tuesday around 4:15 PM, when locals spotted SI Sukanta Das traveling in a three-wheeler near the Eastern Gate area of Khulna city. He was reportedly identified and apprehended by citizens, who physically assaulted him before handing him over to Khanjahan Ali Police Station. However, to the shock of the public, Das was released from custody later that night without explanation.

When news of his release spread on Wednesday morning, students from various educational institutions erupted in protest. By 2:15 PM, scores of students, along with general citizens, assembled at the KMP headquarters. They sealed off the main entrance of the compound and staged a sit-in, blocking police access. The protest continued until late into the night, forcing police officials to break the locks on the headquarters’ gates after the crowd had dispersed around 9:30 PM.

A student leading the protest said, “Since Commissioner Zulfikar Ali Haider took charge, law and order in Khulna has deteriorated. He has failed to take action against political allies of the ruling party. We don’t want to see such an incompetent official in charge of our safety. We demand a patriotic and capable replacement.”

In response to the growing criticism, KMP Commissioner Zulfikar Ali Haider defended the actions of his department. “Legal procedures have been followed in the case of SI Sukanta Das,” he stated. “Appropriate measures have been taken as per the rules regarding the arrest of government officials. He has been produced before the court today, and further legal proceedings are currently underway.”

Despite these reassurances, public confidence appears to be waning. Protesters remain firm in their stance that the police commissioner must resign, accusing him of protecting wrongdoers and undermining public trust.

The incident has also sparked larger conversations about police accountability and transparency in handling misconduct among law enforcement officers. Civic groups and student organizations have declared their intention to continue protests until their demands are met, indicating that the unrest in Khulna may not subside anytime soon.