The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has suspended Kalabagan police officer-in-charge Moktaruzzaman and two other sub-inspectors over allegations of聽聽 unprofessional conduct.
Their suspension came on Sunday, hours after a formal complaint was lodged with its commissioner by Abdul Wadud, who owns a mini zoo Phycamolli Centre in the capital.
According to the complaint, the three police officers demanded Tk 1 crore during an overnight raid on his residence that also houses the zoo in Hatirpool area on April 29.
DMP deputy commissioner for media and public relations Muhammad Talebur Rahman, however, claimed that OC Moktaruzzaman and sub-inspectors Belal and Mannan were suspended on Sunday over administrative issues.
DMP Ramna Division deputy commissioner Masud Alam told 抖阴精品 on Monday that three police officials, including the Kalabagan officer-in-charge, faced action over unprofessional behaviour.
When asked whether the action was related to the Hatirpool incident, Masud Alam said, 鈥榃e have received several complaints against the OC, including the one concerning the Hatirpool incident. He was withdrawn based on multiple allegations.鈥�
He added that the charge of the Kalabagan police had yet to be handed over to another officer.
According to reports, a group of youths stormed into Phycamolli Centre, which is a licensed operation, looted exotic birds and also allegedly demanded extortion money in an overnight raid that began in the small hours of Tuesday and continued till well after daybreak.
The incident reportedly occurred when the three police officers were present at the scene.
In a written complaint to the DMP commissioner, Abdul Wadud alleged that officers Belal and Mannan told him that he would not be taken to the police station if he paid them Tk 1 crore.
鈥楲ater, I gave them Tk 2 lakh. They then left but kept three plainclothes men, who they claimed belonged to the Detective Branch, to keep me under watch until the bank opened so I could pay the rest of the amount they demanded,鈥� Wadud alleged.
The complaint read that 15鈥�20 individuals, accompanied by police officers, with SI Belal in the lead, forced into his residence at about 1:30am on April 29. The raid prompted the house occupants to call the National Emergency Service at 999.
Abdul Wadud also alleged that he was informed by his manager that two patrol teams from the New Market and Shahbagh police arrived at the main road near his residence, but they left as instructed by Kalabagan officer-in-charge Md Moktaruzzaman who was present there.
Earlier on April 29, then Kalabagan OC Md Moktaruzzaman stated that a patrol team was dispatched upon receiving information that around 200 Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists surrounded Abdul Wadud鈥檚 building premises.
鈥楾he BNP men wanted the police to arrest him for his alleged collaboration with Awami League. But we did not detain him as he was not named in any case and is an elderly man,鈥� Moktaruzzaman told 抖阴精品 at the time.
