Chittagong RRF SP arrested over alleged Awami League links, information leak

Jahangir Alam, superintendent of police (SP) of the Chittagong Range Reserve Force (RRF), has been arrested in a sedition case over allegations of maintaining contact with the now-banned Awami League and leaking sensitive police information.

His personal and official mobile phones had been seized, and he was placed under surveillance before his arrest.

Following approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, RRF Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abul Kashem Chowdhury filed a case against him at Panchlaish police station around 10:30pm on Saturday. Later that night, a joint team of the Special Response Unit (SRU), Counter-Terrorism Unit and Panchlaish police arrested him at the Officers' Mess.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Shawkat Ali confirmed the arrest, saying the Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the action on Friday.

According to police sources, Chittagong Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury questioned Jahangir last Tuesday after preliminary evidence of the alleged incident emerged.

His personal and official mobile phones were seized the same day and sent to the police Special Branch (SB) headquarters in Dhaka for forensic examination.

Meanwhile, an internal departmental investigation is underway, led by Shafijul Islam, additional DIG (Operations) of the Chittagong Range.

Sources at the Chittagong Range office said Jahangir had been summoned over allegations that he shared internal and sensitive police information with Awami League leaders and activists, despite the party's activities being currently prohibited.

Citing the first information report (FIR), a CMP official told the media that a message allegedly sent from Jahangir's mobile phone referred to people taking to the streets in December, describing them as swarming "like bees".

The message also reportedly referred to his participation in the 1996 movement demanding a caretaker government and expressed support for the ideals of Bangabandhu. It further included a statement about "rescuing" Bangladesh.

However, the identity of the message's recipient has not been established.

Sources said the investigation could be assigned to a specialised police unit, such as the SRU or the Counter-Terrorism Unit.