Kotwali OC withdrawn over allegation of misappropriating 1 lakh yaba pills in Ctg

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram has been withdrawn and attached to the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Lines following allegations of involvement in the misappropriation of 1,00,000 yaba pills.

OC Aftab Uddin was removed from his post yesterday (17 June).

Confirming the development, CMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic, Administration and Finance) Md Wahidul Haque Chowdhury told The Business Standard that Aftab Uddin had been withdrawn from Kotwali Police Station and attached to the police lines.

According to a police investigation report, Aftab Uddin was involved in the disappearance of 1,00,000 yaba tablets recovered on 8 December last year. The report identified him as the person who instructed subordinates in connection with the incident.

The investigation found that police from Bakalia Police Station detained Constable Imtiaz Hossain, a gunman assigned to a Cox's Bazar court judge, on allegations of transporting 1,00,000 yaba pills on a bus travelling from Cox's Bazar to Dhaka via Chattogram.

Although a large quantity of yaba pills was allegedly recovered, no case was filed and no legal action was taken against the suspect, who was subsequently released, according to the report.

After an audio recording related to the incident circulated on social media, CMP formed an investigation committee led by Additional Commissioner Wahidul Haque Chowdhury. The committee submitted its report to Police Headquarters on 29 April.

The report stated that several officers involved in the operation took control of the yaba pills without officially listing them as seized evidence. 

It also added that Aftab Uddin failed to take the necessary legal steps and directed officers to release the individual carrying the drugs.

The investigation implicated several police personnel, including former Bakalia Inspector (Investigation) Tanvir Ahmed, Sub-Inspector Al-Amin Sarkar, Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain and Assistant Sub-Inspector Saddam Hossain. 

The report recommended departmental and criminal proceedings against them.

Based on the findings, eight police personnel holding the ranks of SI, ASI and constable have been suspended. Former Inspector (Investigation) Tanvir Ahmed has also been suspended.

Rejecting the allegations, Aftab Uddin claimed he had no involvement in the misappropriation of yaba tablets. He said he was at home when the incident occurred and was unaware of the matter.

The investigation report also recommended filing a regular criminal case, recovering the missing yaba tablets, arresting the supplier and identifying others involved in the incident.

However, more than six months after the alleged recovery, no case has yet been filed and the missing yaba pills remain unrecovered.