Cantonment thana’s officer-in-charge (OC), Md Rakibul Hasan, has been withdrawn from his post after an audio recording went viral on social media in which a voice says police “won’t be able to do anything” once Sheikh Hasina returns to the country. Multiple police sources said they had initially identified the voice in the audio as his.
However, in an order issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday, the reason given for the withdrawal was listed as “administrative.” The order, signed by DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, attaches Rakibul Hasan to the central reserve office of DMP headquarters and the administration division. It took effect the same day. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
The audio began circulating on social media on Wednesday night. In it, a person identified as the OC can be heard criticising the government, the administration, the army and the police force. He also alleges that senior police officers have political affiliations, and that money changes hands over OC postings.
In the recording, one voice says: “I know Sheikh Hasina is coming in December. Nothing will happen — nothing at all. You can see for yourselves how weak the police on the streets are. Terribly weak. She should come. December is already late — she should have come this month. Once she comes, this police force won’t be able to do anything.”
The police officer is then heard saying: “All the senior officers are doing BNP politics. We’re not doing BNP. All the seniors are doing BNP, we’re not doing BNP. We didn’t join this department to do that. You’ll eat, drink, [and live well], while we sit here and work — that’s not how it’s going to be.”
The audio also alleges that a senior police official’s driver, referred to as Monir, has been influencing OC postings. The voice says: “Can this be tolerated? What else can I say? Whoever is getting a posting is paying him, postings are happening every morning.” Addressing that senior official, the speaker says he should be ashamed — that he had no job before, and that one year in his current post is enough to make 100 crore taka on its own.
On the subject of OC postings, the voice in the audio also says: “Under commissioners from the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, OCs never had to pay for postings. As long as Benazir was around, no OC was ever transferred for money” — a reference to former inspector general of police and DMP commissioner Benazir Ahmed. The voice continues: “DMP is Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh — the capital city. Why should OCs here have to pay? OCs here should get postings for free. You do the work and collect your money afterward.”
Describing his own experience of doing work for senior officers, OC Rakibul is heard saying: “I did a job in Bhatara for a senior officer. He took one crore taka. I didn’t even know about it… I only had a relationship with him. This is the situation! Can a job be done like this? Incompetent people get placed everywhere, while competent people are kept sidelined.”