Court orders probe into release of cop, held with 1.2 lakh yaba tablets, in Ctg
During the search, 120,000 yaba tablets, estimated to be worth Tk3.5 crore, were allegedly recovered from Imtiaz Hossain. However, after his identity as a police member became known, negotiations reportedly took place
A Chattogram court has ordered a detailed probe into allegations that a serving police officer was detained with 1.2 lakh yaba tablets, worth approximately Tk3.5 crore, at a city checkpoint but later released without any case being filed.
Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin Mahmud took cognisance of a media report regarding the incident and issued a suo moto order on Tuesday (23 December).
The court directed Chattogram Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner (south) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report by 12 January.
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The officer is Imtiaz Hossain, a member of the Cox's Bazar police, who serves as a gunman providing personal security to a judge of the Cox's Bazar district court.
He has been attached to the Cox's Bazar Police Lines since 13 July 2022 and has performed protection duties for senior officials.
According to the allegations, the incident occurred around 2:15am on 8 December near the Shah Amanat Bridge in the Bakalia police station area, when police stopped and searched a Dhaka-bound passenger bus coming from Cox's Bazar.
During the search, 120,000 yaba tablets, estimated to be worth Tk3.5 crore, were allegedly recovered from Imtiaz Hossain. However, after his identity as a police member became known, negotiations reportedly took place.
Allegedly the drugs were not seized and that he was allowed to leave without being arrested or any case being registered.
Court sources said Bakalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin and Inspector (Investigation) Tanvir Ahmed played a key role in the decision to release him.
Sub-Inspector Al Amin and Assistant Sub-Inspector Saddam, along with several other police personnel were also present at the checkpoint.
The court instructed the investigating officer to collect the relevant general diary entries and duty register records for that night, secure any available CCTV footage from the checkpoint area, verify whether Imtiaz Hossain was detained and searched on the bus, confirm the reported recovery of the yaba tablets, and record statements from the bus driver, supervisor and others concerned.
The probe has also been asked to examine the conduct of all officers on duty at the time and determine why no case was filed and why the accused was released.
Repeated attempts to contact Imtiaz Hossain for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or messages. Calls to OC Aftab Uddin and Inspector Tanvir Ahmed also went unanswered.
Aminur Rashid, assistant commissioner (media) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told TBS that the department would carry out the investigation as directed by the court.
The case has renewed attention to allegations of police involvement in the yaba trade along the Chattogram–Cox's Bazar route.
