Ctg Bureau:
 
Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohammad Abdul Kudduch Chowdhury has disclosed details behind the arrest of Superintendent of Police (SP) Jahangir Alam, who was under surveillance while serving at the Chattogram Range Reserve Force (RRF).
 
The DIG said messages recovered from the SP's mobile phone revealed an alleged plan to rehabilitate the now-banned Awami League government by December. One of the messages reportedly called on party supporters to take to the streets, risking their lives.
 
DIG Abdul Kudduch Chowdhury disclosed the information while speaking to journalists at his office in Chattogram around 11am on Sunday (November 15).
 
He said the officer had allegedly maintained communications with Awami League leaders and that the messages formed the basis of a treason case against him.
 
"We recovered two significant messages, both of which have been mentioned in the case statement. One said the previous government would be rehabilitated by December, while the other called on everyone to take to the streets in December, risking their lives," the DIG said.
 
He added that an initial inquiry into the allegations had been completed and a report sent to the Police Headquarters. A regular criminal case has since been filed against the officer.
 
Departmental proceedings will now be initiated in accordance with existing laws, he said, adding that the processes for suspending the SP and initiating departmental proceedings were underway.
 
Asked whether other police officials were involved, the DIG said the matter would become clear through a detailed investigation.
 
Both the criminal investigation and the departmental inquiry are examining the allegations, he said, noting that the legal action was taken based on findings from a preliminary inquiry conducted over two to three days.
 
Explaining how the alleged communications were uncovered, the DIG said police received information from a reliable source and subsequently seized Jahangir Alam's mobile phone. An inquiry committee was formed to conduct a forensic examination of the device.
 
After the examination reportedly corroborated the information, authorities prepared an inquiry report and initiated the process of filing the case, he added.
 
Earlier, Jahangir Alam was arrested late on Saturday night in connection with the treason case. Police picked him up from the District Police Lines Officers' Mess in the Halishahar area of the port city.
 
According to police allegations, the SP had maintained contact with leaders of the banned Awami League and communicated with associates about a plan for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh in December.
 
He is also accused of supplying internal and sensitive information about the police force to Awami League leaders.
 
Police sources said the case was filed at Panchlaish Police Station around 10:30pm on Saturday after obtaining approval from the Home Ministry. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abul Kashem Chowdhury of the RRF filed the case, and Jahangir Alam was arrested shortly afterwards. He is currently in the custody of Panchlaish police.
 
On Tuesday, after receiving preliminary information about the allegations, DIG Abdul Kudduch Chowdhury summoned the SP to his office for questioning.
 
Both his personal and official mobile phones were seized that day and sent to the Special Branch (SB) of the Police Headquarters in Dhaka for forensic examination.
 
Additional DIG (Operations) of Chattogram Range, Shafizul Islam, was assigned to conduct the departmental inquiry into the incident.
 
Jahangir Alam is a 28th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) police cadre officer. He joined the police force on December 1, 2010.
 
Earlier, former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhaka Cantonment Police Station Rakibul Hasan also faced a treason case. He was arrested in that case and is currently in prison.