Dozens of police officers in Bangladesh are under scrutiny as there are allegations of their secret affiliations with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), while there also are specific allegations of corruption and maintaining immoral relations various individuals who are openly criticizing Awami League government and patriotic civil-military officials.
According several sources, dozens of police officers who currently are in important positions were appointed by the BNP-Jamaat coalition government due to their absolute loyalty to those parties. Most of these officers have enthusiastically participated in BNP-Jamaat’s cruelty on leaders and members of Awami League as well as pro-liberation forces in the country.
Recently government has sent 3 senior police officers on forced retirement, where two of them currently are posted at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It has been alleged that these officials have played dubious role and exerted pressure on their subordinate officers in working in favor of anti-Awami League and pro BNP-Jamaat individuals. In one such case, CID had wrongly submitted a charge-sheet against the editor of BLiTZ on a false case filed under Digital Security Act by several active activists and cohorts of cyberterrorists, including extortionist ‘Nagorik TV’ YouTube channel. After succeeding in getting the wrong charge-sheet against BLiTZ editor and internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-militancy journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, those activists and cohorts of cyberterrorists and anti-Bangladesh elements began cruel propaganda against this senior journalist using social media platforms. When the matter was brought into the attention of the Cybercrime unit of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), there has been no response in this regard from the authorities concerned.
Earlier on May 9, 2022, Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter vide memo number 44.00.0000.056.27.030.18.847 asking the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police to investigate and take necessary action against an anti-government individual. Although five months have passed since issuance of this letter, there is no action taken against the culprits. It is anticipated that some anti-Awami League elements withing the department might have buried this letter and helped the criminals from legal consequences.
More police officers under scrutiny
According to information, authorities concerned of the Ministry of Home Affairs, on the basis of intelligence reports currently are scrutinizing background and activities of dozens of police officers, some of whom may face actions such as forced retirement, while others may be transferred to least important posts.
Earlier on October 18, 2022 Bangladesh government sent 3 police officers on forced retirements. They are Superintendent Md. Shahidullah Chowdhury, Superintendent Delwar Hossain Mia and Superintendent Mirza Abdullah Hil Baki. This decision was issued through a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Shahidullah Chowdhury and Delwar Hossain Mia are from Bangladesh Civil Service 12th batch while Mirza Abdullah Hil Baki is from 15th batch.
Superintendent Shahidullah Chowdhury is currently at the Police Headquarters, while two other officers – Delwar Hossain and Mirza Abdullah Hil Baki are posted at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police.
According to media reports, three of these officers were appointed during the rule of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while their suspicious role against the ruling Awami League came under the radar of country’s intelligence agencies recently.
It is further learnt, two of them had been known as loyalists to BNP while one if rumored to be inclined towards Jamaat-e-Islami.
