Five cops transferred over lavish feast for AL leaders in Noakhali court lockup

Five police officers have been transferred after a video surfaced showing a lavish feast arranged inside the lockup of the Noakhali Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court for two detained Awami League leaders.

The development was confirmed on Wednesday (January 21) by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md Arif Hossain.

Authorities also formed a three-member probe committee regarding this matter.

The transfer orders and the probe committee were issued late Tuesday night following public outrage over the viral video.

The transferred officers are Assistant Town Sub-Inspectors (ATSI) Jahedul Islam and Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, and constables Billal Hossain, Md Hasan and Saiful Islam. They have been reassigned to various police outposts in Hatiya.

Police said departmental action may follow based on the findings of the inquiry.

According to police and local sources, the feast was arranged inside the court lockup on Monday afternoon for two inmates brought from jail for court appearance. The detainees are AZM Pasha Chowdhury, president of Companyganj upazila Jubo League and former vice-chairman, and Saif Uddin Ahmed, president of Hatiya municipal Awami League and general secretary of the Bangabandhu Lawyers’ Association. Both are facing multiple cases, including murder and explosives-related charges.

Family members said the event followed a recent family tie: Pasha Chowdhury’s daughter married Saif Uddin Ahmed’s son on December 30. As both men were in custody, a “biyai-khana” (in-laws’ feast) was arranged during their court appearance. A 17-second video of the gathering later went viral on social media, triggering widespread criticism.

The feast reportedly took place in a lockup reserved for female detainees. The video shows family members present alongside the accused during the meal.

In response, district police formed a three-member investigation committee, headed by ASP Abu Tayeb Md Arif Hossain, with ASP Liaqat Akbar of Begumganj Circle and Inspector Md Shah Alam as members. The committee has been instructed to submit its report within seven working days.

Former district bar association president Abdur Rahman said allowing such an event in a court lockup without proper checks constituted a serious irregularity, adding that responsibility could not be avoided by the court police inspector.