Police arrested a local Krishak League leader and his associate on charge of trading Yaba at Shahpur Natunhat More point of Ishwardi upazila under the district on Monday evening.

The arrestees are Abu Bakar Malitha, 45, of Patirajpur in Ishwardi, also secretary of the upazila's Muladuli union unit of Krishak League, and Dulal Sheikh, 40, of Boraigram village in Natore district.

“Acting on a tip, Ishwardi police arrested Abu Bakar Malitha and his associate Dulal Sheikh from Shahpur Natunhat More point around 6:00pm on Monday when they were trying to trade drug. Police seized 200 Yaba pills from their possession,” said Md Azim Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ishwardi Police Station.

“A case was filed against the two arrestees on charge of illegal drug trading and they were sent to jail through the court this morning,” the OC said yesterday.

Locals seeking anonymity said Abu Bakkar was conducting drug business in his area for long, with blessing from influential political leaders including a minister and Selim Uddin Malitha, chairman of Muladuli union parishad.

Selim, also a leader of Awami League's Ishwardi upazila unit, said, “Everybody wants to remain in touch with political leaders for their own interest. It does not mean that the minister and I backed them for drug peddling.”

Those who have been held with drug pills have no support from the party, Selim added.