HC questions govt's inaction

The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to immediately take departmental action against four police officers including the superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police on charges of selling yaba pills to drug traders.

HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal issued the rule based on a writ petition filed by Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, seeking necessary orders for departmental action and suspension of the four officials.

Home secretary, inspector general of police, director general of directorate of narcotics control and deputy inspector general of police in Chittagong have been made respondents to the rule.

The four police officers are Cox's Bazar SP AKM Iqbal Hossain, In-charge of Cox's Bazar Police box Monirul Islam, SI of Police Bureau of Investigation Kamal Hossain, and the OC of Teknaf Police Station, writ petitioner's counsel Advocate Farhad Uddin Ahmed Bhuiyan said.

The lawyer said, the police officers have reportedly sold around 10 lakh yaba pills to drug traders last year.

The allegation has been found true in a probe report, but the respondents have not taken any action against the officers, he added.