Dhaka, 25 September (H.S.):

Former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhaka Cantonment Police Station, Md Rakibul Hasan, has been arrested in Bangladesh. Police said he was arrested on Thursday in a treason case filed over allegations that he circulated anti-state and inflammatory statements on social media.

According to a report by the Dhaka Tribune, the Detective Branch (DB) of police produced him before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in the evening and sought a seven-day remand. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam said police had first filed a treason case against Rakibul at Cantonment Police Station and subsequently arrested him and produced him before the court.

The report said an audio clip surfaced on social media on September 16, when Rakibul was serving as the OC of Cantonment Police Station. In the recording, he was heard commenting on the possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning to Bangladesh, the strength of the police force and the political affiliations of senior police officials. He also alleged financial transactions and other irregularities in police postings.

After the audio clip gained public attention, Rakibul was removed from Cantonment Police Station the following day and, citing administrative reasons, was attached to the Central Reserve Office at DMP headquarters and the Administration Division in Rajarbagh. A three-member committee was subsequently formed to investigate the matter.

Police officials had earlier said that Rakibul was taken to the DB office on Minto Road on the night of September 17. However, the following day, DB chief Shafiqul Islam denied that he had been taken there. For nearly a week, there was no information about Rakibul’s whereabouts. Shafiqul said the investigation committee submitted its report to the DMP Commissioner on Wednesday, following which a decision was taken on Thursday to file the treason case.

In the audio clip, Rakibul was heard saying that Sheikh Hasina was expected to return in December and that if she returned, the police would not be able to do anything. He described the police personnel deployed on the streets as “extremely weak”. He also alleged that senior police officials supported the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Rakibul further alleged that capable officers were being sidelined while incompetent officers were being appointed to key positions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar