Rajshahi Correspondent:

A police officer identified as Mahbub Alam, an officer-in-charge (OC) of a police station, was detained along with a woman from a flat in Rajshahi on Friday.

A woman named Anni Akter, who claims to be Mahbub’s sixth wife, alleged that the police officer marries women wherever he is posted and maintains illicit relationships with several women.

The incident took place at a flat in the Nader Haji intersection area of the city on Friday (September 18).

According to sources, Anni went to the flat around 7:00am after learning that Mahbub and another woman were staying there. She repeatedly knocked on the door for nearly two hours, but no one opened it. She subsequently called the national emergency helpline 999, following which police arrived at the scene.

Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel were also called in. They eventually broke open the door, after which Mahbub and the woman were taken to Chandrima Police Station.

Mahbub Alam served as the OC of Chandrima Police Station in 2024. During his tenure, a video allegedly showing him receiving an envelope from a man went viral on social media. He was subsequently withdrawn from the police station.

He later served with the Naogaon district police. A departmental case was filed against him there, following which he was attached to the Sirajganj In-Service Training Centre.

However, the centre’s commandant said Mahbub had come to Rajshahi without taking leave or obtaining permission from the training centre.

The flat at Nader Haji intersection had reportedly been rented in the name of Mahbub’s alleged foster daughter. His daughter and son-in-law live there. However, Mahbub and the woman had reportedly been staying at the flat since Thursday night.

The woman did not speak to journalists.

Mahbub, however, claimed that the woman was his wife. He could not produce a marriage certificate, or kabin-nama, to substantiate the claim.

Meanwhile, Anni, who was waiting outside the flat, identified herself as Mahbub’s sixth wife. Mahbub claimed that he had divorced Anni four days earlier.

Anni, a woman entrepreneur and content creator from Naogaon, alleged that Mahbub married her at the beginning of this year. She said she later discovered that he allegedly married women in different places where he was posted and maintained relationships with several women.

According to Anni, Mahbub owns a flat in the Padma Residential Area of Rajshahi. She claimed that she had previously found the same woman with Mahbub there for two days. At that time, she said, she chose not to disclose the matter considering social and family honour.

Anni said she learned on Thursday night that Mahbub had gone to the flat rented by his alleged foster daughter and that the woman was also there.

“After learning this, I went to the flat at around 7:00am on Friday,” Anni said. “I knocked on the door repeatedly, but there was no response from inside. I then called 999.”

Police from Chandrima Police Station subsequently arrived at the scene. Anni alleged that the police did not break open the door after learning that Mahbub was inside.

She then contacted the Fire Service, whose personnel arrived and broke open the door.

Anni claimed that Mahbub and the woman had kept the door bolted from inside for more than two hours. She also alleged that although police called and asked Mahbub to open the door, he refused to do so.

After the door was opened, Mahbub introduced the woman as his wife, according to Anni. Police subsequently took both of them to the police station.

While being taken to the station, Mahbub told journalists that he had divorced Anni. He also submitted a document to the police that he claimed was evidence of the divorce. However, he could not produce a kabin-nama for his alleged marriage to the woman found with him.

Police said Mahbub had submitted a document showing that he had divorced Anni four days earlier. Anni, however, said she had never received any divorce document.

Anni said she would file a written complaint against Mahbub. The process of preparing the complaint began at around noon on Friday. At the time, Mahbub and the woman were being kept in two separate rooms at the police station.

Anni also demanded strict action against Mahbub.

As Chandrima Police Station OC Monirul Islam was on leave, Police Inspector (Investigation) Mahmud Siddiqui spoke to journalists about the incident.

He said no decision had yet been taken regarding Mahbub Alam and the woman.

“Senior police officials will come to the police station. A decision will be taken after they arrive,” he said.

Mostaque Ahmed, commandant of the Sirajganj In-Service Training Centre, said he had learned about the incident.

“Mahbub Alam has not been granted any leave, nor did he inform anyone before going to Rajshahi,” he said. “Leaving the workplace without permission is also an offence.”

He said Mahbub Alam was currently attached to the In-Service Training Centre but remained an employee of the Naogaon district police.

“We have informed the Naogaon district police about the matter. They will take departmental action,” Mostaque Ahmed said.