A CONFIDENTIAL list prepared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) specified 16 Brahmanbaria police officials, including five Officers-in-Charge, to be involved in drug business, but the district police in their investigation found the accused ‘innocent’. The confidential list was prepared based on intelligence report and later sent to the Home Ministry for necessary steps, the newspaper reports said. The Ministry further sent the list to district police authorities for action. Instead of taking any action against the culprits at all, the B’baria police authorities have just become more determined to defend its partners in crime. After all, birds of feather fly together.
What, nevertheless, baffles us the sheer audacity displayed by the B’baria Additional Superintendent to declare his men honest against all accusation. His declaration gets even bolder since not even a single official was found involved in the illicit drug trade. In plain words, the statement issued by the Additional Superintendent of Police of B’baria is not believable on any count. Local sources have confirmed at least three of the OCs had direct involvement with drug dealers. Furthermore, involvements of the 16 police officials have been clearly found. Additionally, the PMO list also mentions names of seven ruling party leaders, who according to local sources are still moving freely.
The police giving its men a clean chit don’t come as a surprise to us. And the corruption-riddled police body is merely the tip of the iceberg, in terms, of the lengthy chain of institutionalised corruption within our police force. Not only in B’baria, it’s an open secret that a section unscrupulous law enforcement officials, political leaders and people representatives, are directly involved in drug business. Especially, the situation of bordering localities, including Cox’ Bazar, is the worst. The PMO is well informed about their engagement with illegal activities. Like us, we believe, the PMO also knows that the police authorities are deliberately shielding criminals.
Our final point, however, until stringent action against the enlisted corrupt officers and political leaders is taken also by removing them from their posts – the drive against contraband drug will become meaningless. Since the police high-ups have now become extra-ordinarily defiant and defend their crime partners – now it’s up to the PMO to decide what should be the next course of action.
