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Gias Roni, Noakhali Correspondent: Allegations of demanding bribes have been raised against Rafiqul Hasan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Charjabbar Police Station, and Sub-Inspector (SI) Jasim Uddin in Subarnachar, Noakhali. The complainants claim that when they expressed their inability to pay the demanded amount, they were threatened with the filing of serious charges against the accused. However, the OC has denied the allegations of demanding a bribe.
It is reported that locals detained a young man and the wife of an expatriate—both from the same area—after allegations of an extramarital affair surfaced in the Selim Bazar area of No. 2 Charbata Union; the pair was subsequently handed over to the police station. Later, the detained young man, Siddique, was visited at the station by his younger brother and several locals. At one point, relatives from both sides contacted the police to resolve the matter through a settlement.
The complainants allege that SI Jasim Uddin demanded a total of Tk 50,000 from both parties, promising to register the case under minor charges. He reportedly stated that portions of this money were designated for the Superintendent of Police (SP), the OC, and himself. Although both parties later agreed to pay Tk 30,000, they were informed that the amount could not be less than Tk 40,000. They were also threatened that failure to pay would result in the filing of serious charges, making it difficult to secure bail.
Regarding this, the brother of the woman involved stated that when both parties expressed their inability to pay the demanded Tk 40,000, his sister was taken to the OC's room and pressured to file a rape case against the young man. However, she refused to file a false case, and consequently, she was threatened with imprisonment.
The relative claimed that although the individuals involved were brought to the station around 2:00 PM on the day of the incident, there was a delay in sending them to court. They had requested the police to send them to court so that bail arrangements could be made; they were eventually sent to court later.
After being released on bail, the woman involved, Beauty Akter, alleged to journalists that around midnight, the OC summoned her to his room and ordered her to unlock her mobile phone. After examining the phone, she was told that if she wanted to save herself, she would have to file a case against the young man. When she refused to file a false case, she was threatened. Later, Sub-Inspector (SI) Jasim took her into custody. She claimed that pressure to file the case continued the following morning as well.
Meanwhile, Md. Sohag—the brother of the detained young man—alleged that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) summoned him to the police station and verbally abused him for complaining to journalists, subsequently ordering SI Jasim to arrest him. Later, the SI told him to leave the station. Sohag claimed he was also offered a deal to have the case registered under a less serious section in exchange for money; he was told that paying the bribe would make securing bail easier after being produced in court.
The incident has caused concern among locals. The complainants have demanded an impartial investigation and appropriate action based on the veracity of the allegations.
However, Rafiqul Hasan, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Charjabbar Police Station, denied the allegations of demanding a bribe. He stated that locals had handed the pair over to the police following allegations of a relationship between the young man and the wife of an expatriate. Although several individuals called to have them released, the police did not let them go and instead produced them in court. He claimed that these false allegations were raised precisely because the requests of those seeking their release were not honored.
BP > SP
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