Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Muhammad Harun Or Rashid was transferred to the Police Headquarters yesterday amid allegations of trying to extort a businessmen, and framing him and his driver in two cases.

Harun will serve at the Training Reserve unit at the the Police Headquarters.

This category of officers continues to serve until a particular posting for them is ordered, police officials said.  

Earlier on Saturday, Narayanganj police filed two cases against Showkat Aziz Russell, chairman and managing director of Amber Group, and Md Sumon, a driver of Showkat, on charges of possessing drugs and illegal firearms. 

The two cases were filed after police claimed that they arrested Sumon and seized 1,200 pieces of yaba pills, 28 rounds of bullets, 24 bottles of foreign alcohol, 48 cans of beer, and Tk 22,000 from an SUV in Signboard area under Siddhirganj police station.

Later in the day, Narayanganj SP Harun held a press conference and disclosed that Showkat was in the SUV and was carrying a firearm, but he managed to flee. 

He said they raided Showkat’s residence and brought his wife and son to Narayanganj for interrogation.

Harun could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.

“What police have done is unfair. Harun demanded Tk 8 crore from my son. As he refused, Harun framed my son in the false cases,” Showkat’s father MA Hashem, who is also the founder and chairman of Partex Group, said.

Earlier on May 5 in 2016, Showkat sent letters to the president, home minister, the then cabinet secretary and chiefs of different intelligence and law enforcing agencies accusing Harun of demanding an extortion of Tk 5 crore from him.

Harun was then the SP of Gazipur. 

In the letter, Showkat had alleged that a sub-inspector on May 3, 2016 called Ambar Denim Store manager Yeahia Babu on behalf of SP Harun and said, “SP Harun sir called me right now. He [Harun] told me to call Showkat’s men. I need money, send Tk 5 crore immediately. 

“Before this, SP Harun demanded Tk 5 crore twice after calling me to the Lamda Hall of Gulshan Club and Gulshan Kabab Factory Restaurant. He asked me to send the money in dollars to an address in America. At that time, he threatened to destroy my business house if I did not send the money,” read the letter.