Cumilla Kotowali police station was besieged by more than a hundred Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists on Sunday afternoon following the detention of Cumilla Sadar Adarsha upazila unit president Rezaul Quiyum over alleged extortion.

Transport drivers and workers also blocked the Shashangachha Bus Terminal, halting bus operations, according to locals and the police.

The police said members of Kotowali police station and the district Detective Branch jointly detained Quiyum from his house in the Shashangachha area around 12:00pm.

Kotowali police station officer-in-charge Towhidul Anwar said the BNP leader was detained on orders from higher authorities.

‘The higher officials can provide more details. He has not been shown as arrested yet,’ he added.

Cumilla district assistant superintendent of police (Sadar Circle) Saiful Malik said Quiyum was brought in for questioning over several issues.

During a visit to the police station, more than a hundred BNP leaders and activists—many of them transport workers—were seen surrounding the premises.

Additional police forces were deployed as supporters chanted slogans, including threats of protests and calls for his release.

The OC was seen attempting to calm the situation, but protesters continued their demonstrations.