Bamna OC withdrawn for slapping ASI

Officer-in-charge of Barguna's Bamna Police Station Elias Ali Talukder was withdrawn yesterday for slapping an on-duty ASI at a human chain programme.

Mofizul Islam, additional superintendent of Barguna police and also the chief of the committee formed to investigate the incident, said the OC was withdrawn and attached to Barguna police lines in line with the instructions of Barishal DIG office.

"During investigation, we found the allegation of slapping the ASI true. Therefore, we recommend in the report taking departmental action, including withdrawal of OC Elias," the police officer said, adding that they submitted the report to the Barguna SP office on Monday night.

On Saturday, OC Elias slapped the ASI (who wished to be unnamed) in front of hundreds of people during a human chain in Bamna upazila town, demanding the release of Stamford University student Shahadul Islam Sefat, who was arrested (now on bail) from the site where Maj (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed was shot dead by police in Cox's Bazar on July 31.

Sefat is from Bamna.

The incident drew widespread criticism when it went viral.

On Monday, the ASI was also withdrawn from Bamna Police Station and attached to Barguna police lines.