Police Officer Withdrawn Over Multi-Million Taka Drug Scandal

Following prolonged controversy and mounting scrutiny, Inspector Aftab Uddin, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station under the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), has been withdrawn from his post. The decisive administrative action follows conclusive evidence linking him to the misappropriation of 100,000 Yaba tablets and the illicit release of a detained suspect.

The suspect, Constable Imtiaz Hossain, was serving as the personal gunman to a judge at the Cox’s Bazar Court. Inspector Aftab was officially removed from his post on Wednesday (17 June) at approximately 9:00 pm and subsequently attached to the Dampara Police Lines.

Official Investigation and Findings

Md. Wahidul Haq Chowdhury, the Additional Commissioner (Traffic, Administration, and Finance) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, confirmed the development. He stated that an internal investigation verified the incriminating evidence and investigative reports originally published by the daily Tell our representative

A comprehensive six-page probe report has been submitted to Police Headquarters, recommending formal administrative penalties and criminal prosecution under the Narcotics Control Act. This move has effectively derailed Inspector Aftab’s extensive, multi-million taka campaign to secure impunity using influential connections.

The formal investigation established that the incident occurred on 8 December last year. At the time, Inspector Aftab was serving as the OC of Bakolia Police Station. Officers under his command intercepted Constable Imtiaz Hossain with a shipment of 100,000 Yaba tablets. However, instead of initiating legal proceedings, the contraband—valued at approximately 22.5 million BDT—was misappropriated by the police personnel, and the suspect was released under the direct orders of Inspector Aftab.

Chronology of Disciplinary Actions

Prior to the withdrawal of Inspector Aftab, ten other police personnel from Bakolia Police Station were suspended following initial confirmations of their involvement. Departmental cases against these officers are currently underway, supervised by Abdullah Mohammad Sheikh Sadi, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (West) of the metropolitan police.

Mechanics of the Contraband Seizure and Cover-Up

According to the investigative findings, Constable Imtiaz Hossain boarded a Dhaka-bound ‘Desh Travels’ bus after receiving a luggage bag containing 100,000 Yaba tablets from a supplier named BDT Mocharrof in Cox’s Bazar. Imtiaz was promised a payment of 80,000 BDT for transporting the cargo. After the vehicle crossed the Shah Amanat Bridge over the Karnafuli River, ASI Saddam Hossain and a police informant intercepted the bus, removed Imtiaz, and forced the bus crew to leave.

During interrogation at the police box, in the presence of Inspector Tanveer Ahmed and SI Al-Amin Sarker, the luggage was opened to reveal ten packages containing 10,000 pills each. The officers confiscated the narcotics but returned the empty bag to Imtiaz, allowing him to travel to his village in Comilla via a CNG auto-rickshaw.

When investigative journalists exposed the matter later that month, Inspector Aftab attempted to suppress the information. He blocked contacting reporters and gathered his subordinates in a private room, forcing them to swear an oath on the Holy Qur’an never to disclose the incident.

Legal Infractions and Evidentiary Deletion

The official police inquiry concluded that Inspector Aftab Uddin deliberately violated multiple statutory provisions:

• Section 46 of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018: The inspector failed to register a mandatory criminal case despite the offense being cognisable.

• Regulation 244 of the Police Regulations Bengal (PRB) & Section 29 of the Police Act: By releasing a detained suspect with contraband without a judicial process, he directly breached core police service rules.

• Destruction of Evidence: He intentionally failed to preserve the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the police box where the interception took place.

Inspector Aftab has denied all allegations, asserting that he was at his residence during the incident and possessed no knowledge of the narcotics.

Allegations of Extraneous Influence and Institutional Response

The probe revealed that Inspector Aftab attempted to stall the investigation by offering financial bribes to journalists through intermediaries associated with local political factions. Furthermore, he sought to leverage influence through Rocky Baruah, a figure known for claims of high-level international contacts, to manipulate senior law enforcement officials. Reports also indicate that he falsely claimed a close familial relationship with the former CMP Commissioner, Hasib Aziz, to insulate himself from disciplinary actions.

When questioned about these claims, the former CMP Commissioner, Hasib Aziz, clarified that the ongoing investigation would remain impartial and that no personal associations would shield the officer from accountability. Concurrently, the Police Superintendent of Cox’s Bazar, A.N.M. Sajedur Rahman, confirmed that Constable Imtiaz remains suspended pending final directives from the CMP inquiry.

The current CMP Commissioner, Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali, reaffirmed that the law makes no distinction between civilian offenders and law enforcement personnel. He stated that the metropolitan police are awaiting final execution orders from Police Headquarters to initiate formal criminal proceedings under the Narcotics Control Act against Inspector Aftab and all associated accomplices.