DNC in Sirajganj

Sirajul Islam Shishir:

Delay in investigation over the allegation of attempting to misappropriate the gold bars by some unscrupulous officials of the Directorate of Narcotics Control (DNC) in Sirajganj has sparked speculation among the people.

Fresh allegation has been intensified that, the higher authorities are passing time and carrying the investigation at a snail’s pace with the intention to cover-up the incident. Now the effort is going on to take the incident in another direction, locals complained.

Though, the high-ups claimed that, the investigation is underway and drastic action would be taken shortly according to the probe report, locals and other sincere officials of the DNC have expressed their lack of confidence over the fate of investigation due to its slow-motion.

Sources said that, a team of DNC officials under Sirajganj district unit led by its Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Khalil conducted a raid at Hatikumrul intersection, also most significant transit route of the northern region, on October 15, 2024 without knowledge of the higher authorities. Assistant Sub-Inspector Mina Pervin, Sepoy Sohel Rana and Akmol Hossain among others also took part in the drive on behalf of the DNC. During the drive, they intercepted a private car with the assistance of their so-called informers and then they found two gold bars at the possession of Al-Arafat Hossain, who hailed from Manikganj.

Surprisingly, some of the team members snatched away the gold bars from its owner Arafat terming those as illegal smuggled goods and tried to hide the matter deceiving the law. One of the bar’s weigh was 11 bhori and another was 10.4 bhori.

Though, the gold bars were snatched away from its owner, it was not included in the seizure list at that time. The snatcher officials of the DNC concealed the bars and created panic among the passengers of the car in which they refrain from leaking out the incident to others.

However, the incident got leaked out and the gold bars were given return to its owner Al-Arafat after 48 hours through a negotiation between the both parties in presence of Mohammad Ruhul Amin, also Deputy Director (DD) of DNC’s Sirajganj office.

As the incident became public, a divisional case was lodged against four persons including the Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Khalil. After the incident, question raised over the activities of the organization.

Insiders said, DD Ruhul Amin played controversial role over filing of the divisional case to protect himself from its liabilities. As a top boss of the office, he can’t evade his responsibility at all. He was also liable for such irregularities, they claimed.

Rafique Sarker, Public Prosecutor (PP) of Sirajganj Judge Court told The Daily Sky that, “There has been a violation of the law in this incident. The process of returning the seized gold has not been transparent in any way. If it is to be returned, it must be done through customs, legal authorities or judicial magistrates or higher authorities. There is no way to return it this way.”

Al Arafat Hossain, owner of the gold said, “The officials of DNC in Sirajganj in collaboration with some unauthorized persons took away my gold bars forcibly. But, they didn’t maintain any official procedure in this regard. They threatened me not to public the incident. They warned me saying that, if I make the incident publish, I shall face dire consequences. However, I was compelled to inform the matter to DD Ruhul Amin and requested him to return my assets. After about 48 hours, they returned the gold bars to me.”

Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Khalil said, “I was unknown about stealing of the gold bars from its owner. Even, the owner Arafat did not say me anything about it. As a result, I could not take any step at that time. After hearing from DD, I came to know about the incident.”

“Sepoy Sohel Rana, Akmol Hossain and Mina Pervin were mains behind the gold bars misappropriation attempt,” he added.

While contacted, Sepoy Sohel Rana declined to make any comment in this regard over cell phone. He expressed desire to meet with this correspondent secretly with the intention to manage him for avoiding the news publication.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Mina Pervin also expressed similar desire saying that, “What will be, if any report is published in newspaper in this regard. We are already facing divisional case over the incident. If there is no way, I shall move to my daughter, who lives in abroad. So, I have no headache over the issue.”

Mohammad Ruhul Amin, DD of DNC in Sirajganj told The Daily Sky that, “I have returned the bars to its owner after hearing the incident. But, I did it according to my high officials’ directive. However, the incident is now under investigation. Higher authorities will take necessary action after completion of the investigation.”

Seeking anonymity, an official of the DNC’s Sirajganj office said, “Various types of speculation have been created among the officials of the organization over the issue. Besides, people are losing their confidence on the DNC. After the incident, the chain of command at the office has been breached tremendously. No one of the office now complies with the rules and regulations. Due to such mismanagement and irregularities caused by inefficiency of its DD Ruhul Amin, reputation of the DNC is being distorted day by day.”

Masud Hossain, Additional Deputy Director of DNC divisional office in Rajshahi said, “Investigation is underway. All the accused may be called by the Director General (DG) anytime for interrogation. After completion of the investigation, necessary action would be taken.”

When this correspondent attempted to talk with Khondoker Mostafizur Rahman (NDC), Director General (Grade-1) of the Department of Narcotics Control over cell phone on Wednesday for his comment, he could not be reached.

It is to be mentioned that, another investigation on charge of conducting drive with the unauthorized informers is now going on by the intelligence unit of DNC, Rajshahi Regional Office after publishing a news-report on The Daily Sky on January 19 last.

The Daily Sky in its report titled “DNC Saga: When drug peddlers selves turn Narcotics officers…!” revealed that, a team of DNC officials including Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mst. Mina Pervin, Sepoy Md. Sohel Rana, Md. Sohan Alam, Md. Akbal Hossain and Oliur Rahman, Mst. Nahida Akhtar led by Md. Emdadul Haque Khan, Inspector of DNC “Kha” circle in Sirajganj conducted a drive on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) last at Hatikumrul intersection using some unauthorized informers. The unauthorized informers wearing dresses of DNC carried search on different vehicles on behalf of the officials. They mainly had been carried such unethical activities for long with the intention to take illegal benefit by harassing passengers and drivers.