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Published : 29 Mar 2026, 02:57 PM
Hatirjheel Police Station chief (OC) Golam Mortuza has offered an unconditional apology amid public discontent over police conduct in the closure of a Punjabi shop belonging to Nobin Fashion in Dhaka’s Moghbazar.
He appeared before the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman on Sunday, submitting a written explanation of the police’s role and seeking an unconditional pardon.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the court had summoned the OC and ordered him to explain the matter within three days. It also directed him to go to the spot within 24 hours and reopen the Nobin Fashion Punjabi outlet.
The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) issued the order suo motu.
Accordingly, Mortuza appeared in court on Sunday and filed his response along with an unconditional apology.
State counsel Jamal Uddin Marjin told the court, “The court has heard the OC’s statement. On the day Nobin Fashion was shut down, several individuals identified themselves as friends and relatives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The court has sought the prosecution’s opinion regarding them. The order on the OC’s apology has been kept pending.”
The prosecutor also informed the court that OC Mortuza has already been removed from Hatirjheel Police Station.
A video of the incident went viral on social media on Mar 20, the day before Eid-ul-Fitr, showing neighbouring traders forcing the closure of the “Nobin Fashion” outlet in Moghbazar for selling Punjabis at lower prices.
Nearby shopkeepers objected, comparing the low prices to “relief distribution”. Police were also present at the scene.
In its suo motu order on Wednesday, the court noted a report published in an online edition of a national daily, which showed a group of people, along with police, ordering the closure of a Punjabi shop of the “Nobin” brand at Bishal Centre Market in Moghbazar.
The court observed that although some individuals were seen behaving in an unruly matter at the scene, police personnel present were standing by passively.
It said such inaction by police could create fear among the public.
The court asked why such conduct should not be declared unlawful and contrary to professional standards, and ordered the Hatirjheel OC to appear before it within three days with a written explanation.
The judge also gave directives to the authorities to submit detailed identities of those involved in the incident.
