Four police officers removed over alleged Tk1m bribe to release seized drugs

Four police officers have been withdrawn from duty in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila over allegations that they accepted Tk1 million in exchange for releasing a consignment of seized narcotics and a private car during an anti-drug operation.

Hatibandha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar confirmed the development on Friday afternoon.

The officers withdrawn are Sub-Inspectors (SIs) Tuhin and Rimon Mia, and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Abdul Hakim and Lutfor Rahman. They have been attached to the Lalmonirhat Police Lines pending further action.

According to police and local sources, acting on a tip-off on July 17, the four officers conducted a raid at the residence of a suspected drug dealer in the Boarder Hat Bazar area of Hatibandha upazila. During the operation, they reportedly seized a private car, a motorcycle and a large quantity of narcotics.

The officers are accused of taking the seized items to the Bhelaguri Union Parishad premises, several kilometres away, instead of bringing them to the police station. It is alleged that, following negotiations there, the drugs and the vehicle were released in exchange for Tk 1 million. The allegations surfaced after CCTV footage from the location emerged.

The following day, July 18, the same police team reportedly faced public outrage during another operation in Bhabanipur village. Following the allegations, the district police launched a preliminary inquiry.

OC Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar said the initial investigation found evidence supporting the allegations. As a result, the four officers have been withdrawn and attached to the Police Lines, while the district police have formed an investigation committee to conduct a detailed probe into the incident.