Ex-DB chief Harun, 17 other police officers suspended over 'desertion'
The list of suspended officials includes three deputy inspector generals (DIGs), six additional DIGs, four superintendents of police (SPs), four additional SPs, and one assistant SP.
The government has temporarily suspended Harun-or-Rashid, former chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) and 17 other police officials, as they have been absent from duty without permission.
The Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification in this regard today (18 August).
The list of suspended officials includes three deputy inspector generals (DIGs), six additional DIGs, four superintendents of police (SPs), four additional SPs, and one assistant SP.
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It stated that the police officers have been charged with the punishable offence of "Desertion" as per Rule 3(c) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018 and are hereby suspended from service with effect from the date of their absence in duty as per Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12.
During the suspension period, they will be entitled to subsistence allowance, the notification added.
The remaining suspended police officers are, Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, additional police commissioner, DMP; Sanjit Kumar Roy, joint police commissioner, DMP; Rifat Rahman Shamim, former joint police commissioner, DMP, Dhaka (currently Additional DIG attached to the Range DIG Office, Chattogram); Kazi Ashraful Azim, superintendent of police, Chattogram Range DIG Office, Chattogram (former Deputy Police Commissioner, DMP, Dhaka); Hasan Arafat, additional superintendent of police (promoted to supernumerary superintendent of police), Police Training Centre, Khulna; Syed Nurul Islam, former DIG, Dhaka Range and currently DIG, Bangladesh Police Academy, Sardah, Rajshahi; Md Asaduzzaman, former superintendent of police, Dhaka District and currently Superintendent of Police, Bangladesh Police Academy, Sardah, Rajshahi (attached); Mohammad Zayedul Alam, additional DIG, APBn and Specialised Training Centre, Khagrachhari; Mohammad Farid Uddin, additional DIG, APBn (Hill Districts); Shyamal Kumar Mukharjee, additional DIG, attached to Range DIG Office, Rajshahi; Ayesha Siddiqa, superintendent of police (promoted to supernumerary additional DIG), attached to Range DIG Office, Rajshahi; Rajan Kumar Das, additional superintendent of police, 8 APBn, Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar; Mirza Salauddin, additional superintendent of police, Police Staff College, Dhaka; Md Habibullah Dalal, assistant superintendent of police, Police Staff College, Dhaka; Rashedul Islam, additional deputy police commissioner, BMP, Barishal; Md Moniruzzaman, additional DIG, Tourist Police, Dhaka; Md Abu Maruf Hossain, former deputy police commissioner, Rangpur, currently at ATU, Dhaka; and Mohammad Ashrafulzzaman, DIG (Commandant).
In July 2011, Harun became the centre of attention after physically assaulting the then opposition chief whip and BNP leader Zainul Abedin Faruk in front of Parliament.
He continued to attract public attention by detaining individuals, including opposition figures, in DB custody, feeding them rice, and recording videos of the incidents.
Harun also gained notoriety for holding multiple press briefings each day, staging photo sessions with showbiz stars, engaging in torture during custody, extorting money by threatening to release videos, and a range of other controversial activities.
On 19 February, a Dhaka court ordered to seizure of 130 bighas of land belonging to Harun and his brother ABM Shahriar.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order after presenting an application in this regard by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the court.
The court also ordered the freezing of 10 bank accounts of Harun and 11 bank accounts of Shahriar.
Besides, on 21 October 2024, the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) asked all banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) to freeze the accounts belonging to the ex-Detective Branch chief and his family members.
The cell has sent letters in this regard to the top executives of all banks and financial institutions.
The family members are – Harun's wife Shireen Akter; mother Jahura Khatun; brothers ABM Shahriar and Ziaur Rahman; father-in-law Farid Uddin Ahmed and relative Samraj Mia.
On 2 October last year, a case was filed against Harun and 10 others over allegations of extortion and assault of a businessman in Narayanganj's Fatullah.
Earlier on the morning of 5 August 2024, all senior officials, including Harun, assembled at the Central Command and Control Unit on Abdul Gani Road, across from the Secretariat in the capital.
As protesters began throwing bricks at the Central Command and Control Unit after spotting a large banner depicting Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the situation grew increasingly dire. Fearing for their safety, many police officers removed their uniforms.
According to sources, Harun and several other officials climbed over the 13-foot wall behind the building and fell onto the road in front of the police headquarters. Harun sustained serious injuries to his legs and lower body.
He later went to the police headquarters with the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In the afternoon, as the situation began to stabilise, Harun managed to climb the wall of the Dhaka South City Corporation near the police headquarters, according to media reports.
However, his exact whereabouts that night remain unconfirmed.
Earlier, The Business Standard reported, citing a police source, Harun sought refuge in an embassy or high commission in the diplomatic area.
In 2006, Harun's wife obtained a US visa through the DV lottery programme. Harun allegedly attempted to use this visa to escape to the United States and contacted the US Embassy, seeking assurance of safe passage to the airport, according to several media reports.
