DHAKA, May 21, 2025 (BSS) - The narrative of abduction of Awami League leader Nirmalendu Das Rana, which was spreading on social media, is a baseless one, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing said  on Tuesday night.

"False claims were circulating on social media surrounding the arrest of an Awami League leader named Nirmalendu Das Rana," the press wing said in a statement posted on its verified Facebook account - CA Press Wing  Facts.

On May 18, 2025, several posts on X and Facebook accounts, linked with Awami Lwague, began circulating sensational claims: that Nirmalendu Das Rana (45), a former Union Parishad Chairman of Kargao Union Parishad in Nabiganj Upazila in Sylhet and expelled general secretary of Municipal Awami League, had been abducted by Jamaat-Shibir cadres.

Some accounts even accused Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus of staying silent, insinuating his support for the Islamist political group Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir.

But, a deeper investigation reveals that the claims are entirely false and politically motivated. Rana was not abducted by anyone, rather was handed over to police by some locals after they found him loitering in a market in Sylhet city, the statement said.

"Nirmalendu Das Rana was already an absconding accused in multiple criminal cases. He was the prime suspect in a case filed in September 2024 for attacking a rally organised by political opponents," the statement read.

The press wing said Rana was also sued for assaulting students during the July-August uprising in 2024.

According to newspaper report, during the tenure of the fallen autocratic Awami League government, Rana established a reign of terror in his locality. Despite multiple reports of irregularities and corruption published in various media outlets, he remained reckless and unchecked.

Rana was expelled from the banned Awami League in 2021 for violating party discipline by running as a rebel candidate. He also faced allegations of embezzling Taka 19.08 lakh from Union tax funds in the 2022–23 fiscal year, according to the press wing.

On the night of May 17, locals in a Sylhet city market recognised Rana and assaulted him before handing over to Sylhet Metropolitan police.

"So, the narrative of Rana's abduction is baseless," the statement claimed.