Additional DIG Zahir made OSD over drug recovery incident

Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdullah Al Zahir has been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD) following the recovery of a huge quantity of drugs in an anti-drug drive at a house he rented out in the 300 Feet area of the capital.

In an office order signed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Ali Hossain Fakir on Tuesday he has been attached to the Headquarters Branch of the Police Headquarters. The order has been directed to be made effective immediately.

Abdullah Al Zahir was serving as Additional DIG (Supernumerary) in the Repair and Maintenance Branch of the Police Headquarters.

Earlier Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) Police conducted a drive on Monday night at a house he rented out in the 300 Feet area of the capital. Police have informed that various types of drugs including ice, shisha, yaba, alcohol, cannabis and kush were recovered in the drive. At that time 84 people including 26 women were arrested.

Additional Commissioner of DB Police Shafiqul Islam confirmed the matter on Tuesday afternoon. He said that drug consumption and illegal DJ parties had been going on at the house for a long time. For this reason the drive was conducted there. The house was rented out by the police officer but he did not live there.

DB sources said that Abdullah Al Zahir has a plot in Police Officers Housing Society-1 in the 300 Feet area. Five rooms were constructed there and listed on the online rental platform Airbnb. There are allegations that young men and women rented the rooms through that platform and got involved in various activities including DJ parties and drug consumption. The drive was conducted on the basis of information about these activities.

DB sources have informed that along with the drugs various party materials and some vehicles were seized in the drive. Eighty-four people including a person named Mahbub who was in charge of operating the rooms were arrested.

However Abdullah Al Zahir has presented his own position regarding the renting out of the house. He said that the house was rented out for a birthday party on Monday. At the time of renting it was informed what can be done and what cannot be done. There is also a provision of a fine of Tk 1 lakh for breaking the rules.

He said that the persons who took the house on rent broke the rules. He claimed that none of them are involved in this incident.