Police sub-inspector taken off duty for alleged blackmailing of Bangladesh Bank official

The police officer, who allegedly tried to blackmail a Bangladesh Bank official on Saturday night, has been taken off duty.

Golam Rabbi, who works at the central bank’s communication division, alleged that Mohammadpur police Sub-Inspector Masud Shikdar did not take him to a police station but kept him confined in his vehicle in a bid to extort money from him on Saturday night.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Tejgaon police Wahedul Islam told bdnews24.com that Shikdar had been taken off duty following the allegations.

A former student of Dhaka University, Rabbi has, in the past, worked as a news anchor at a TV station.

Around 11:30pm on Sunday, he was stopped by police in the Mohammadpur area and first subjected to a body search. Then he was asked to pay up or face prosecution as a Yaba dealer and addict.

Rabbi said he was returning from a relative’s home when he was accosted by the police.

"Even when I told them I work for Bangladesh Bank, SI Masud abused me in foul language," Rabbi said.

However, SI Masud Shikdar told bdnews24.com that Rabbi had not been dragged to the police station in view of his social position as an official of Bangladesh Bank.

"We detained him because he failed to explain what he was doing in that area so late at night." Shikdar said.

He said Rabbi resisted the usual body search police would put anyone through if he or she evoked suspicion.

"He (Rabbi) also made many adverse comments about police. We let him go after discussing the matter with the OC," Shikdar claimed.