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B'baria police give its men clean chit

Contradicts PMO list that named 16 cops for their 'involvement' in drug trade

MASUK HRIDOY and MOHAMMAD JAMIL KHAN
Although a confidential list prepared by the Prime Minister's Office said 16 Brahmanbaria police officials, including five officers-in-charge, were involved in drug trade and smuggling, the district police in their investigation found them innocent.
“We did not find any specific evidence of the involvement of the listed police officials in drug trade or smuggling. We also submitted a report to the higher authorities regarding it, " Iqbal Hossain, additional superintendent of police in Brahmanbaria, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The confidential list was prepared based on information from local intelligence officials and later sent to the home ministry for necessary steps. The ministry sent the list to the district police authorities for further action.
The Daily Star tried to know about the listed officials, and learnt from local sources that at least three of the OCs had links with drug dealers.
Mossarrof Hossain Tarafder, OC of Akhaura Police Station, whose name is at the top of the list, was allegedly close to wanted drug dealer Hannan Mia alias Hannan Member.
Hannan, also general secretary of Akhaura municipality unit of Swechchhasebak League, is wanted in at least two cases filed with Akhaura Police Station.
But OC Mossarrof never took any action against him. Rather, they were seen roaming together on several occasions, according to top ruling party leaders in Akhaura and other locals.
Hannan even took several selfies with Mossarrof and posted those on Facebook, last one was in February.
Hannan, who was named in the PMO list as a drug trader, fled to India in March after he was declared wanted in a narcotics case for sending another man to jail as his proxy.
Contacted, OC Mossarrof refuted the allegations.
"We are conducting drives to arrest Hannan. If you have any infor-
mation about him, give it to me," he said.
Replying to another query, he added, "It is difficult to trace or recall who was taking selfie with you when you are on duty at a public gathering or programme."
The second name on the PMO list is Bijoynagar Police Station OC Ali Arshad.
Hossain Mohammad Dulal, joint secretary of Bijoynagar AL, has been selling Phensedyl for years maintaining close ties with OC Arshad, said Al Amin, a former organising secretary of the upazila Chhatra League.
Contacted, Dulal said he was never involved in narcotics trade. But he is on good terms with the OC as he has a showroom of electronic goods in front of the police station.
Wishing anonymity, a senior Jubo League leader said it is no secret that Dulal is involved in Phensedyl trade.
A number of locals, including some top ruling party leaders of the area, told this newspaper that the OC is also close to "drug queen" Faria Begum alias Fari of Harashpur village, who served different terms in prison.
According to police sources, Faria is now wanted in at least 10 narcotics cases filed with Bijoynagar Police Station.
OC Arshad was even seen visiting Faria's house, said a top Jubo League leader of the upazila.
This correspondent tried to contact Faria on her several cell phone numbers, but all of them were found switched off.
OC Arshad, however, rejected the allegations and said these are false and baseless. "I have been working against narcotics trade since I joined the police station two years back."
He also said he knows Dulal but has no idea about his drug links.
The OC also claimed he doesn't know anyone called Faria.
The number seven on the confidential list is Ashuganj Police Station OC Badrul Alam Talukder.
A number of locals and ruling party leaders, requesting anonymity, alleged that Badrul used to run a drug racket when he was the OC of Kasba Police Station, near the Bangladesh-India border, about five to six years back.
Badrul was transferred to Bhairab Bazar Police Station in 2014, but he still has connection to the narcotics syndicate, they added.
The OC said these are false accusations.
When told about the findings of this newspaper, Addition SP Iqbal Hossain said they found the officials innocent in their investigation and submitted report accordingly.
The police officials, whose names are on the list, include nine subinspectors and two assistant subinspectors.
The district police so far transferred 10 Sis and ASIs to different places while another SI has gone into retirement.
Additional SP Iqbal said this was nothing but a routine transfer. In reply to a question why particularly the 10 listed officials were transferred, he did not give any answer.
The PMO list also mentions names of seven ruling party leaders, who according to local sources are still moving freely in their respective areas.
About this, Additional SP Iqbal said they are on the run and the police stations concerned have been instructed to conduct drives.
RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, district AL president and lawmaker of Brahmanbaria-3, said anyone found involved in narcotics trade will not be spared.