Police have launched a probe against an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Special Branch (SB) after the home ministry got a written complaint against him. The ASI allegedly embezzled a huge amount of money by promising government jobs to people. He also allegedly threatened the complainant.
Additional superintendent of SB, Ismail Hossain, is investigating the case in Dhaka, while the additional superintendent of Patuakhali police, Shaheb Ali Pathan, is investigating the case in Patuakhali.
The accused, ASI Nazmul Islam Hannan, currently works as a gunman of an influential minister.
The complainant is a man named Humayun Kabir Sikder, son of Md Abdul Kader, hailing from Uttar Lohalia Baghbari under Patuakhali Sadar upazila. In a written complaint to the home ministry on December 27, Huyamun alleged that ASI Hannan, who is also a local resident, took a huge amount of money from unemployed youths of the area with the promise to give them jobs in the health and home ministries.
Ismail interrogated Humayun at the SB headquarters in Dhaka on January 19. Humayun alleged that Hannan had threatened him in different ways. He allegedly had even sent hired goons to Humayun’s house on December 16 when he was not at home. The goons had allegedly threatened Humayun’s family that they would kill him. Humayun named the goons, all locals, as Halim Chokider, Shohag Mollah, Jamal Mollah, and Shopon. “He (Hannan) threatened to me kill in a ‘crossfire’,” Humayun alleged yesterday. “Sub-inspector Al Amin of Patukhali pressured me to call up ASI Hannan,” Humayun also alleged. On the night of December 26, 2016, Humayun had apparently called Hannan. During the phone conversation, Hannan had allegedly told Humayun, “You have brought danger to yourself. You spread offensive claims about me. How dare you do that?”
“I move around with a top minister. I am a police officer. I work for human rights. You talk indecently about me? Wait and see what I do to you. I shall put your two brothers in danger. There is no place in Bangladesh where I do not have my cadres,” the ASI had allegedly threatened Humayun.
“Haven’t you seen my photographs with the inspector general of police? Do I have to send the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) after you?” he had allegedly said.
“I am going to Dhaka tomorrow. Where does your brother live? I shall first pick him up and then your father. I shall not do anything against you, as you are mad,” ASI Hannan had allegedly told Humayun.
The Independent has also obtained a copy of the audio clip. Another man who had allegedly identified himself as “Faisal” allegedly threatened to file a case against Humayun. This correspondent found out that Faisal works with the Detective Branch of Patuakhali district police. He, however, claimed that he does not even know Humayun.
According to the complaint sent to the home ministry and the Anti-Corruption Commission, Hannan has bought a flat in Dhaka, two flats in Barisal, a house and two plots in Patuakhali. These assets do not much his income.
Hannan allegedly had also circulated posters in Patuakhali. In one of these, he claimed that he was appointed a legal adviser of the Bangladesh chapter of the UN to establish international human rights. He allegedly published a calendar this year with his photos and distributed it among local people. The Independent has obtained copies of the posters and the calendar.
Inspector KM Tariqul Hasan, the OC of Patuakhali Sadar police station, admitted to this correspondent that he had also seen the posters at a local shop. On condition of anonymity, an officer of the home ministry said: “This is a criminal offence, and we are investigating the matter. If ASI Hannan is found guilty, we shall take stern action against him.” Shaheb Ali Pathan said: “I am investigating the allegations against ASI Hannan.” But he refused to elaborate on the progress of the investigation. Denying all allegations against him, ASI Hannan said: “This conspiracy has been hatched only to tarnish my image.” He claimed that his enemies had circulated the posters and calendar. About the audio clip, ASI Hannan said: “Anybody can make such a clip nowadays.”