Allegations tarnish Sirajganj DNC’s reputation
Selim Reza, Sirajganj :
As the interim government continues its reforms to eradicate corruption, bribery, and drugs, serious allegations of misconduct have surfaced against several officers and employees of the Directorate of Narcotics Control (DNC) in Sirajganj. These allegations tarnish the reputation of both the department and the government.
It is alleged that certain unscrupulous DNC officers and employees, in collaboration with informers, are involved in public harassment, extortion, and bribery under the guise of conducting search operations on highways. Despite conducting raids regularly, officials reportedly fail to record seized items as per the official records.
Instead, valuable goods such as gold ornaments, mobile phones, drugs, and clothing are allegedly misappropriated and sold, with the proceeds shared among those involved. Innocent individuals often lose their belongings and are left without legal recourse.
Several transport drivers, speaking anonymously, claim that complaints submitted to the relevant authorities have yielded no remedy, while harassment during anti-drug drives has escalated.
They allege that unauthorised individuals, acting as informers, participate in searches on various vehicles, including buses, trucks, and private cars, wearing uniforms bearing the DNC logo. Their primary objective appears to be extortion, with threats of legal action used to intimidate victims into compliance.
A significant location for such activities is the Hatikumrul intersection, a key transit point on the Dhaka-Rajshahi, Dhaka-Bogura, and Bogura-Nagorbari highways. On 15 January 2025, a team led by Inspector Md. Emdadul Haque Khan, including several DNC officials, conducted a search operation at this location using unauthorized personnel.
Upon the arrival of journalists, the unauthorized individuals fled, and the officials withdrew to avoid scrutiny.
When approached for comment, Inspector Emdadul Haque Khan and his team declined to respond.
Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Deputy Director of DNC Sirajganj, acknowledged the misuse of uniforms by unauthorized individuals, deeming it a violation of service rules. A show-cause notice has been issued to Inspector Emdadul Haque, with further action pending his response.
Questions remain regarding the identity of these informers, with insiders suggesting they are often involved in drug trafficking themselves.
It is alleged that while numerous raids are conducted, many seized items are not recorded, leading to discrepancies in official statistics. In 2023, 1,400 drives resulted in 390 cases, with significant drug and asset seizures. In 2024, the number of drives slightly decreased to 1,360, leading to 368 cases. However, insiders claim these figures do not reflect the actual volume of recovered items.
Advocate Rafique Sarker, Public Prosecutor of Sirajganj District Judge Court, has stated that unauthorised individuals have no legal right to conduct operations on behalf of law enforcement agencies. He urged immediate action against those responsible. Meanwhile, Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Sirajganj, confirmed that an investigation is underway, and appropriate measures will follow based on findings.