Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were withdrawn from Khulshi police station in Chattogram and attached to police lines over taking national cricketer Nayeem Hasan to the police station as a suspect.
Police said that the action was taken after a preliminary inquiry found negligence in discharging duties.
Khulshi police station officer-in-charge Ariful Islam said that sub-inspector Shafiq brought Nayeem Hasan to the police station on the basis of intelligence information supplied by the station’s second officer.
‘The information mentioned suspicion over the transportation of a consignment linked to smuggling,’ the OC said.
Ariful said that he had not been informed beforehand about the matter. After Nayeem was brought to the police station, the OC identified him and released him soon after the matter was cleared.
‘Senior officials reviewed the incident. The policemen concerned were withdrawn after primary inquiry found negligence in discharging duties,’ he said.
The OC also said that a bag carried by Nayeem was later searched, but no illegal or suspicious item was found inside it.
Earlier, Nayeem was returning home from Chattogram airport by a CNG-run auto-rickshaw after playing a Dhaka Premier League match. His vehicle was stopped and searched in Lalkhan Bazar area at about 11:30pm.
Nayeem said that a plainclothes man and some police members tried to force him out of the auto-rickshaw and take him into their vehicle. He claimed that he was physically harassed and beaten even after identifying himself.
He received primary treatment at a Chattogram hospital and is now staying at his residence.
While describing the incident to local media, Nayeem said that he had allowed police to search his bag. But, he alleged, he was grabbed by the throat without any reason and later assaulted.
He also alleged that local people identified him as a national cricketer, but the situation did not change.
Nayeem said that he was later taken to Khulshi police station, where he contacted his family members and Bangladesh Cricket Board officials.
Meanwhile, Nayeem’s brother Sabbir Alam filed a case with Khulshi police station on Saturday morning against sub-inspector Shafiqul Islam, constable Rasel and police source Sohel.
The case was filed on allegations of assaulting Nayeem and attempting to abduct him.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Md Amirul Islam said that Nayeem Hasan would get justice and legal action would be taken over the allegation.
‘He will get justice. We are taking legal action. No matter who the police member is, we have zero tolerance in this regard as the image of police is involved. We are working with the dream of building a new Bangladesh. In the present situation, we will not tolerate anything,’ he said.
