Allegations of Bribery, Promotion: ‘Business’, Negligence

Kazi Shafiqul Islam worked as a reserve officer (RO)-01 at  Chattogram District Police Lines for seven years. His tenure was marked  by allegations of bribery, promotion business, gross negligence in  duties and misbehaviour with his colleagues.

He was then transferred to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) from  district police. The transfer opened the floodgate of his  irregularities, as they began to come to light one by one.  

Shafiqul, currently a sub-inspector, has been sent show cause  notices from the Chattogram SP office, but he has not responded to  those. A departmental case was also filed against him over  irregularities.

The case is currently under investigation. 

Mentioning "administrative reasons", the SI was stand released from  the RO-1 post of CMP by the Police Headquarters and transferred to Armed  Police Battalion (APBN) on December 30. Afterwards, the order was  cancelled.

Following this move, the then superintendent of police (SP) of  Chattogram Noor-E-Alam Mina found many irregularities against the SI  during an annual visit to the Reserve Office at Halishahar Police Lines  on December 3, 2018.

In the eight-page report signed by SP Noor-E-Alam and attached to  the show cause notice issued on December 12, 2018, he asked the SI to  explain 21 allegations found against him at different points.

Most charges against him involve gross negligence in official and  departmental duties, taking money from police personnel for their  promotions and concealing allegations from seniors. 

Shafiq was asked several times to present his version through show-cause notices, but he did not reply.

The Daily Star obtained a copy of the case documents and official show cause notices served upon SI Shafiqul.

According to the reports, most of the allegations involved violations of officials rules, which are punishable offences.

Police sources said SP Noor-E-Alam last issued two show-cause  notices to Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Sadar) of CMP for SI Shafiq on  December 24 last year, which also went unheeded by Shafiq. 

Confirming the notices, Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Sadar) Amir Jafar  told The Daily Star, "A few letters came from the SP office and at that  time the SI was on holiday. After joining, I asked him to send a reply."

This correspondent visited the SP office a few days back and tried  to talk in this regard, but no one wanted to talk about SI Shafiq there.

Additional SP (Sadar) Md Jahangir told The Daily Star "The allegations and departmental case are internal matters."

Talking to The Daily Star, CMP boss Mahbubor Rahaman said, "I have  heard that a departmental case is ongoing against SI Shafiq in the  district. I did not get any letters in this regard to take steps against  the SI."

"There are several steps of a departmental case and issuing show  cause notices is one of them," he said, adding, "If he is found guilty  in the case then action will be taken as per the order."

Contacted, SI Shafiq told this correspondent "Who are you and why are you asking this? I am not bound to answer you."

At one point, he said, "In the reserve office, there are 40 to 35  persons, including SIs, ASIs and constables. Why I should take the  responsibility for all of them?

"SP Noor-E-Alam Mina did this against me violating all the rules. He  is my close relative, but I don't understand why he did that to me," he  said. He then asked the reporter to come to his office for details.

Talking to The Daily Star, SP Noor E Alam said, "The SI is lying and  I am not his relative. During my annual inspections I found the  irregularities against him and issued show-case notices for that.

"When the procedure of registering departmental case started, he  managed to get transferred to the CMP from district police. Despite  issuance of repeated show-case notices, he did not reply, but answered  through a letter when I left Chattogram to new office station," added  Noor E Alam.