OC Aftab withdrawn over yaba case

Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin of Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Kotwali Police Station has been withdrawn following allegations of misappropriating yaba tablets and releasing an accused police constable.

He was withdrawn from Kotwali Police Station on Wednesday, June 17, and attached to Dampara Police Lines.

Chattogram City Police’s Additional Commissioner (Traffic, Administration and Finance) Md Wahidul Haq Chowdhury confirmed the matter. He said evidence gathered during the investigation was found credible, and a report had been sent to Police Headquarters recommending action against Aftab under both departmental rules and the Narcotics Control Act.

According to police sources, the allegation relates to an incident on December 8 last year, when members of Baklia Police Station allegedly detained Constable Imtiaz Hossain, a gunman of a Cox’s Bazar district court judge, with 1 lakh yaba tablets.

Instead of filing a case, the accused constable was allegedly released, while the seized yaba tablets were misappropriated. At the time, Aftab Uddin was serving as OC of Baklia Police Station. He was later transferred to Kotwali Police Station as OC.

Investigators reportedly found that Constable Imtiaz was released under Aftab Uddin’s direct instruction. Aftab is also accused of trying to cover up the incident.

A reliable source claimed that after the incident, Aftab called those involved into a closed room and made them swear on the Holy Quran that they would not disclose the matter.

Earlier, after preliminary findings emerged, eight police members, including a Sub-Inspector and an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Baklia Police Station, were suspended. They are SI Md Al-Amin Sarkar, SI Md Amir Hossain, ASI Saiful Alam, ASI Ziaur Rahman, ASI Saddam Hossain, ASI Enamul Haq, Constable Rashedul Hasan and Constable Umme Habiba Swapna.

The primary accused, Constable Imtiaz Hossain, was also suspended. Later, on June 9, Baklia Police Station’s Investigation Inspector Tanvir Ahmed was suspended in connection with the same incident.
Departmental proceedings against the suspended police members are now underway. Additional Deputy Commissioner (West) Abdullah Mohammad Sheikh Sadi is investigating the matter.

Despite the suspension of several officials, questions had been raised over why Aftab Uddin remained in his post for months. His withdrawal came after the investigation report found evidence against him.
CMP Commissioner Hassan Md Shawkat Ali said no one would be spared if found involved in drug-related crimes.

“Whether a drug trader is a police officer or an ordinary citizen, all are equal in the eyes of the law. Action will be taken accordingly,” he said.