A Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) constable was arrested and remanded in custody on Wednesday in connection with an illegal gambling operation conducted within an abandoned shed on the premises of the Thakurgaon District Superintendent of Police (SP) office. The arrest of Constable Md. Shahidul Islam brings the total number of police officers detained in the case to five.
Following the judicial remands, procedures have commenced to temporarily suspend all five personnel under police disciplinary rules, Thakurgaon SP Md. Belal Hossain confirmed.
Speaking during an interview at his office on Wednesday, 16 September, SP Belal Hossain detailed the administrative actions under way while addressing the institutional accountability surrounding the incident. Standard service procedures dictate that any police officer arrested or surrendering under criminal charges faces immediate suspension. Alongside the ongoing criminal investigation, departmental cases will be initiated, with a dedicated inquiry officer assigned to oversee proceedings. Formal departmental action will conclude upon the final verdict of the court.
The raid also resulted in injuries to Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Jewel Rana, who suffered a fractured finger during a scuffle as officers attempted to evade arrest. Medical professionals advised Officer Rana to take official medical leave due to the severe fracture, temporarily relieving him of active administrative duties while his arm remains bandaged.
Law enforcement officers seized several items of evidence from the scene, including four motorcycles—two of which lacked proper registration—alongside multiple mobile phones. Investigating officers are analysing the seized electronic devices to determine ownership and establish their involvement in the gambling ring. Deciding whether to place the accused officers on police remand remains at the discretion of the lead investigator.
Reflecting on the decision to prosecute officers from his own force, SP Belal Hossain expressed the emotional strain involved, noting that whilst he views his personnel with familial regard, professional duty requires unwavering adherence to justice. He emphasized that law enforcement cannot apply double standards by prosecuting civilians while overlooking misconduct within its own ranks.
Had the officers complied during the raid, the matter might have remained limited to minor disciplinary measures for breach of conduct. However, resisting arrest and causing injury to a senior officer constituted serious criminal offences, leaving the department with no choice but to pursue full legal recourse.
