A mosque caretaker was caught red-handed while selling alcohol near the Lal Dighi area of Jashore town on Saturday night. The man, identified as Islam Ali (60), is a resident of Kazipur Boladanga village and has been serving as the caretaker of a mosque in the Mikepotti area for several years. He also resides nearby.
The incident took place around 10 PM, when locals noticed Islam Ali roaming the Lal Dighi area with a liquor bottle in hand, raising suspicion. A few of them began to follow him. Shortly after, a man was seen approaching Islam to purchase alcohol. At that moment, locals intervened, chasing him down. Islam tried to flee and threw the bottle away but was unsuccessful in escaping.
The locals immediately informed the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC). A team arrived at the scene and took Islam to his residence, where a search of his bedroom led to the discovery of four more bottles of foreign liquor, bringing the total to five bottles.
Shahin Parvez, Sub-Inspector of the Jashore unit of the Department of Narcotics Control, confirmed the incident. “We recovered five bottles of foreign liquor from his possession. However, during questioning, he gave inconsistent statements about the source of the alcohol. We are currently investigating the matter,” he said.
The incident has sparked outrage and disappointment in the local community, as Islam Ali was entrusted with a religious role. Authorities have stated that legal action will be taken against him under the relevant narcotics laws.