ACC to probe allegations against DC Mollah Nazrul

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will probe allegations that deputy commissioner Mollah Nazrul Islam of Detective Branch (DB) (North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police recently extorted Tk 1 crore from a businessman, said an ACC source yesterday.
The ACC will lodge a First Information Report if the inquiry officer, ACC Deputy Director Nasim Anwar, who is supposed to submit a report within 15 days, finds any primary evidence, added the source.
News reports stated that DB Sub-inspector Hasnat and Inspector Azhar, instructed by their boss, Nazrul, picked up businessman Syed Abidul Islam, 42, from his Gulshan-1 residence on April 7 around 3:00am.
He was released after the payment, alleged Abidul's friend Kabirul Haque Mukti, Narail 1 lawmaker.
As the incident surfaced, Hasnat and Azhar were closed while Nazrul was made DC (protection) on June 1.
The DB men threatened to implicate him in false cases if he did not pay Tk 10 crore, Abidul, hailing from Narail, told The Daily Star.
Another businessman, Azzadur Rahman Mithu, Nazrul's distant relative, brought down the amount to Tk 1 crore through negotiations, he said.
On the afternoon of April 7, Abidul, Mithu, Hasnat and another man withdrew the amount from the Shantinagar branches of Standard Chartered Bank, United Commercial Bank Ltd (UCBL) and Brac Bank, added Abidul.
UCBL and Brac Bank CCTV footage showed Abidul, Mithu and Hasnat withdrawing money.
Refuting the allegation, Nazrul earlier said Mukti had a grudge against him over an incident in Narail two years ago.
Abidul, assisted by Mukti, lodged complaints with the home ministry, Police Headquarters, DB and an intelligence agency, which are now under investigation.