NETROKONA, Bangladesh — Two audio recordings purporting to capture a police sub-inspector negotiating a bribe with a smuggling suspect have gone viral on social media, prompting the officer’s withdrawal and the launch of an internal investigation, police said.
The recordings followed the seizure of Indian-made cosmetics and the arrest of two young men in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila. The audio surfaced after 10 p.m. Wednesday, and the accused officer, Sub-Inspector Abu Hanif, was withdrawn from his station the same night, police said. A police inquiry committee has been formed.
“As soon as the leaked audio came to my attention, the accused sub-inspector Abu Hanif was withdrawn,” said Mohammad Tariqul Islam, the district police superintendent. “A three-member inquiry committee has been formed, headed by additional superintendent Sajal Kumar Sarker. The committee has been asked to report within three working days. If the allegations are proven, departmental action will be taken. No leniency will be shown.”
According to police and local residents, officers raided the Rangamatia area of Najirpur union late Tuesday night, seizing 18 sacks of Indian cosmetics — including body sprays, shampoo and olive oil — from a pickup truck. The driver, Mohammad Nasim, 23, of Shingpur, and his assistant, Monir Hossain, 21, of Seichahani village, were arrested. A case was later filed naming five people, including the alleged ringleader, Jasim Uddin, 35, of Rajnagar village.
In the first recording, lasting 5 minutes and 23 seconds, a voice identified as Jasim’s is heard saying, “Sir, I will give you 80,000 taka. Don’t file a case against me. Just show two sacks as seized.” The voice attributed to Hanif replies, “No brother, it can’t be less than what I’m saying. You give 3 lakh taka.” Jasim then says he will pay 1 lakh, and Hanif tells him to bring 3 lakh to a specific location: “It will be better for you. After that we are here.”
In the second recording, lasting 3 minutes 12 seconds, the same officer’s voice is heard saying, “Do whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly. I’m now crossing the Bhabanipur bridge. I’ve given you a discount — bring two and a half.” Jasim replies, “Brother, you’ve given a discount, give a little more. Even with hardship I’ll give you 2 lakh. Give me a little time.” At another point, Hanif says, “Be careful — WhatsApp conversations can be recorded on another phone. Don’t do that.”
Calls to mobile phones belonging to Hanif and Jasim went unanswered, with both phones switched off.
Mohammad Siddique Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kalmakanda police station, said the matter was being handled by the superintendent. “Sub-Inspector Abu Hanif has been withdrawn. Police are conducting a drive to arrest Jasim Mia, the owner of the smuggled goods,” he said. The officer also denied any involvement in the matter.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report