OC withdrawn over allegation of selling seized cannabis

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daudkandi Model Police Station in Cumilla has been withdrawn from his post after allegations surfaced that he, along with another police officer, sold approximately 160 kilograms of cannabis seized during an operation to drug traffickers.

According to an order signed by Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Asaduzzaman on Tuesday (June 30), OC Md. Abdul Bari was withdrawn (closed) from his position and attached to the Cumilla Police Lines.

Earlier, on March 18 last year, while serving as the Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon Police Station, Abdul Bari had also been withdrawn following allegations of involvement in case manipulation and illegal profits from arrests. Authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation into the roles of the police personnel concerned in the latest allegations.

Police and local sources said that on Saturday night (June 27), a covered van traveling from Chattogram to Dhaka was parked in front of the Daudkandi Fire Service station on the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. Acting on a tip-off, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Imam Uddin and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Hafizur Rahman searched the vehicle. It is alleged that they recovered approximately 160 kilograms of cannabis packed in three sacks but did not officially seize, document, or deposit the narcotics at the police station as required by law. Instead, the cannabis was allegedly sold in stages that same night to several drug traffickers.

The allegations further state that the cannabis was later transported away in a black microbus. The incident reportedly became widely known in the local area, causing public outrage. Senior police officials subsequently took notice of the matter and initiated an investigation.

However, OC Md. Abdul Bari has categorically denied the allegations. He said that a newspaper had published a false report against him out of personal malice and insisted that no such incident had occurred at Daudkandi Model Police Station. He added that if the allegations are proven, he would be prepared to resign from his job, but he would not accept what he described as baseless accusations.

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Asaduzzaman said the roles of the police officers concerned are being thoroughly examined. He added that if the allegations are substantiated during the investigation, strict legal and departmental action will be taken in accordance with the relevant regulations.