Harun transferred, not before assaulting 2 BCL leaders

Over the last couple of years, allegations were raised many times against Additional Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid of assaulting teachers, students, opposition activists, journalists, lawyers and even his fellow policemen.

But this time, he allegedly assaulted two Dhaka University Chhatra League leaders and got transferred from Ramna division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in less than a day.

Besides, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said Harun will be quizzed and given "the punishment he deserves."

It has been alleged that Harun along with several policemen tortured BCL Organising Secretary Anwar Hossain Naeem and BCL Science Affairs Secretary Sharif Ahmed Munim at the Shahbagh Police Station on Saturday night.

Yesterday, Harun was first attached to the public order management (north). Hours later, he was transferred to the Armed Police Battalion, said Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner (media).

A BCL leader from Dhaka University, requesting anonymity, said police kept Naeem and Sharif detained until a team from the university proctor's office went to the police station and got them released.

The two BCL leaders were then taken to a hospital for treatment, he added.

A three-member probe body led by Deputy Commissioner (operations) Abu Yousuf was formed and asked to submit a report in two work days.

ADC Harun did not answer his official phone when called by this correspondent. He answered his personal phone, but hung up upon hearing the caller's identity.

Talking to Somoy TV, Naeem said Harun and at least 15 other policemen tortured him for almost 15 minutes.

"I recorded some of it on my phone, but Harun wiped the phone," he said, lying on a hospital bed.

A BCL leader, aware of how the incident unfolded, said Harun and a woman police officer were at the BIRDEM Hospital around 8:30pm on Saturday when the woman officer's husband, a government official himself, went there with Naeem and Sharif and engaged in an argument with Harun.

A police team then reached the scene at Harun's order and took Naeem and Sharif to Shahbagh Police Station where they tortured the duo, said the BCL man, requesting anonymity.

Two Dhaka University dorm units of BCL yesterday condemned the ADC Harun's actions.

BCL General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan said he and several others had met the home minister over the matter.

He added that he had not thought about filing a case.

A reporter yesterday asked Home Minister Asaduzzaman whether previous allegations of battery against Harun would be investigated as well.

"Yesterday's incident is the first significant one. We are working on it. He will be punished for the wrong deeds," the minister replied.