BB official assault: SI Masud did not behave like police, says Home Minister

The behaviour of the suspended Sub-Inspector of the Mohammadpur Police Station, Masud Sikdar, accused of torturing a Bangladesh Bank official, was unlike that of a policeman, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said.

The minister expressed this view regarding the police assault of bank employee Golam Rabbi and Dhaka South City Corporation conservancy Inspector Bikash Chandra Das while speaking to reporters at the ministry on Monday.    
 
“One or two [untoward] incidents tend to occur in such a huge police force. But no one is being spared,” the minister said in reply to a query.
 
“No one is above the law—be it a police personnel or a secretariat employee. Departmental and legal measures are being taken in every case,” he added.
 
Referring to recent cases of harassment by police, Kamal said: “SI Masud did not behave like a ‘police’ with bank official Rabbi.
 
“He has been suspended because his police-like behaviour had not been established in the preliminary investigation. The IGP has ordered further probe.  Appropriate action will be taken against Masud and Jatrabarhi Police Station SI Akash once that is over.”

Dhaka South City Corporation official Bikash Chandra Das was allegedly assaulted by policemen in plainclothes despite a Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s order against any police team operating in civilian dress. 
 
Kamal said: “The ministry gives the guidelines and the police administration implements them. But, at times, police have to be on duty in plain clothes for tactical reasons. Police, DB, and RAB have their vests and uniform.”

“The ministry directive is that police must have their vests on or be in uniform while on duty.”
 
On Jan 9 night Masud had allegedly tried to extort money from Bangladesh Bank communications wing official Golam Rabbi by detaining him and threatening to book him as a drug addict.

Masud was removed from the police station after the matter came to light and was subsequently suspended.
 
A committee is also probing the incident.
 
Two days later, corporation official Bikash Das was manhandled by SI Arshad Hossain Akash and a few others.

Das is currently undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
 
SI Arshad Hossain was suspended after the incident and a three-member team is probing the alleged assault.