OC in meet joined by 'criminals'

An officer-in-charge of a police station in Chattogram was seen attending a yard meeting with “criminals” in Lalkhan Bazar area of the district on Tuesday.

Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station, attended the meeting along with local Awami League and Jubo League leaders, said locals.

Abul Fazal Kabir Ahmad Manik, councillor of ward-14 in Lalkhan Bazar, also addressed the meeting, locals added.

The participants also included a murder suspect, a rape suspect and an accused in a case filed over assaulting police, said sources.

Among the criminals -- Ainul Kader Nipu, a suspect in Jubo League leader Shudipto murder; Mainuddin Hanif, suspect in Shudipto murder and an accused in a case filed over assaulting police officials; Wasim Uddin, accused in the police assault case; and Muhammad Jahed, Shudipto murder suspect and a Chattogram garment worker's rape accused -- attended the meeting.

The district's Beat Police Committee-39 organised the meeting on the occasion of Police Week-2019.

When asked the OC denied the allegation and said, “I didn't know them [the criminals] by face. It was a public meeting and I attended it following the request of the beat police committee.”

After the allegation was raised, he collected information and learned that the accused were on bail, he added.

Contacted, Md Mahbubor Rahman, commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said the issue came to his notice and asked senior officials to investigate the matter.

“Departmental actions will be taken against him [the OC] as per the rule if he is found guilty,” the CMP commissioner said.

“I was a guest at the programme as a public representative. I don't know any detail... It's the police who is responsible to deal with the issue,” ward councillor Kabir said responding to a question of The Daily Star correspondent.