Shahin Fakir :
As the crucial time for promotions in the police administration approaches, a vested interest group has become active again. It has been alleged that a group that has been hiding behind the police administration, known as an ally of the fallen dictatorial government, is now using the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to malign honest and ‘deprived’ officers.
The recent news of the ACC’s investigation into allegations of illegal wealth acquisition against Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Dr. Md. Ashrafur Rahman and former OC of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan is considered by those concerned to be the latest example of this conspiracy.
‘Anonymous’ conspiracy behind the allegations
According to ACC sources, no decision was taken to investigate these two officials in a meeting of the commission on November 4. However, after talking to several responsible ACC officials, it was learned that these allegations are basically ‘anonymous’ and without specific information or evidence. A deputy director of the ACC, who did not want to be named, said that the commission receives hundreds of anonymous complaints every day. Usually, these are not taken into account without verification. Even if the ACC does not take a decision due to lobbying from influential circles, the aim is to undermine the social status of those involved in the propaganda.
Target 15th BCS: Who is behind it?
The investigation has revealed that the main target of this conspiracy is the 15th and 17th batch officers of the BCS police cadre, who were subjected to extreme discrimination during the previous government. The arrow of the accusation is towards an influential Additional IGP of the Police Headquarters, who understands the situation and wants to get into an advantageous position through dishonest means.
Sources claim that just as 15th BCS batch officer and former Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Dr. Md. Nazmul Karim Khan was controversially removed, the same blueprint is now being implemented in the case of DIG Dr. Ashrafur Rahman.
It is worth noting that Dr. Nazmul Karim Khan was sent to compulsory retirement in 2023 for the ‘crime’ of being involved in Chhatra Dal politics and was reinstated in service after the 2024 coup. A deep conspiracy was hatched to remove him through a newspaper propaganda campaign. After removing him, the conspirators now aim to prevent the promotion of the remaining ‘deprived’ officers.
Who is this Dr. Md. Ashrafur Rahman?
DIG Dr. Md. Ashrafur Rahman is a PhD-degreed police officer, known for his integrity and professionalism in his career. He was deprived of important posts for a long time during the previous government. After the student uprising on August 5, 2024, he took charge of the Mymensingh Range.
Since taking charge, he has taken strict steps to restore the broken police chain of command in the Mymensingh division. In particular, his strict stance against the banned Chhatra League terrorists and fugitive Awami League leaders has made him an eyesore in a certain circle.
* Activities: In the last few months, under his leadership, about 800 identified criminals and leaders and activists of banned organizations were arrested and sent to jail in the Mymensingh Range.
* Outrage: It is believed that this arrest operation is the reason why a local Awami League syndicate and their accomplices hiding in the police have come together to frame false corruption charges against him.
Objectives and tactics:
This falsehood has been started in view of the upcoming promotion process of high-ranking police officers. The main objectives of the conspirators are:
1. To exclude talented and deprived officers from the promotion board on the pretext of an ACC investigation.
2. To break the morale of honest officials of the administration by creating confusion in the public mind.
3. To implement the agenda of the fallen dictatorship by appointing people loyal to them in important police positions.
Analysts’ opinion:
Security analysts and former police officers believe that such allegations against those who are restructuring the police in the post-coup period will hinder the reform process of the police force. If this ‘conspiratorial’ activity is not stopped now, the ghost of partisanship will once again haunt the administration.
The question in the public mind is – why are there suddenly allegations of corruption against officials who have been oppressed for the past 15 years and are now steadfast in their anti-dictatorship stance? The informed must work as a vanguard to ensure that the ACC does not become a tool for implementing the agenda of special circles.
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