Forced Marriages and Arson at Sylhet Resort Under BNP Leader’s Watch

Local Correspondent

Eight young men and women were forcibly married under controversial circumstances at Regent Park Resort in Sylhet’s Moglabazar on Sunday. Locals accused them of engaging in “immoral activities” and carried out the marriages in the presence of BNP leader Tajrul Islam Tajul. Parts of the resort were later set on fire.

The incident occurred on January 19, prompting the resort management to announce an indefinite closure through a social media statement. Resort officials remained unavailable for comment as their phone lines were switched off.

Khondoker Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Moglabazar Police Station, confirmed that locals entered the resort, raised allegations, and set a section of it ablaze. Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control. The officer stated he had no knowledge of the marriages and added that the detainees were handed over to their families by locals without police intervention.

Among those present was Tajrul Islam Tajul, member secretary of the BNP-affiliated Krishak Dal in Sylhet district. The marriages were officiated by local marriage registrar Abdul Bari, who confirmed he was summoned by the locals to formalize the unions. He revealed that the dowry amounts ranged from 1 million to 1.2 million BDT per marriage.

According to Bari, the eight individuals, four men and four women, were residents of various parts of Sylhet. Locals alleged that the resort had been a hotspot for “immoral activities” for an extended period, prompting their intervention.

Tajul stated that around 2,000 people gathered at the resort, leading to the forced closure of its gates. Some individuals scaled the walls to gain access. He claimed the fire resulted from a generator malfunction.

When asked whether locals had the legal authority to force marriages or intervene in personal matters, Tajul avoided giving a direct answer.

South Surma Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Urmi Roy said she was unaware of the incident.

The forced marriages, along with the arson, have sparked questions about individual freedoms and the legality of such actions by non-authoritative groups.