Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch reportedly recovered a large quantity of foreign liquor during a raid at the home of a Bangladesh Chhatra Dal leader in the city’s Bandar police station area on Wednesday evening. However, police have yet to officially confirm the quantity recovered, provide a seizure list or clarify whether anyone was detained in connection with the operation.
The raid was conducted at a residence in KB Dovash Lane, within the Bandar police station area, on Wednesday (9 September). A police source told Kalbela that officers recovered around 200 bottles of foreign liquor during the operation. The same source also claimed that two people were detained.
The reported detentions, however, could not be independently confirmed by speaking to officers involved in the raid.
There were also conflicting accounts regarding the presence and detention of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal leader Mohammad Abu Shakil Sagar. Several sources claimed that Sagar was at the residence when the raid took place and was detained by police. A member of the relevant Detective Branch unit, however, said Sagar could not be detained.
Sagar is a joint convener of Bandar thana Chhatra Dal. He is also reportedly a follower of Tarikul Islam Tanvir, a joint convener of Chattogram city Chhatra Dal.
Following the operation, repeated attempts were made to obtain official details from officers of the Detective Branch’s South Division. No immediate confirmation was provided regarding the reported recovery of nearly 200 bottles of foreign liquor or the alleged detentions.
A reporter later visited the Detective Branch office in Mansurabad in person and spoke to a police member who had taken part in the operation. Asked about the raid, the officer directed the reporter to the duty officer for information concerning the case First Information Report (FIR) and details of the operation.
The duty officer, however, said information could not be disclosed without authorisation from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).
The matter was subsequently raised with Sheikh Shariful Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Detective Branch’s South Division. After being informed about the request for details, he referred the matter back to the duty officer and again advised obtaining information from the officers who conducted the raid.
A second attempt was then made to contact a police member involved in the operation. The officer said details of the raid would be disclosed at a press conference scheduled for Thursday (10 September).
As a result, several key aspects of the operation remain unclear pending the police briefing. These include the exact quantity and nature of the liquor allegedly recovered, the identities and number of people detained, whether Sagar was among those detained, and whether a case has been filed.
At present, the figure of approximately 200 bottles and the claim that two people were detained remain based on police-source accounts rather than an official statement. The final details are expected to become clearer once the Detective Branch formally addresses the operation.
