Cantonment OC withdrawn after audio on Hasina goes viral

 
Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Rakibul Hasan has been withdrawn from his post after an audio clip allegedly featuring his voice went viral on social media, in which the speaker claimed that police would be unable to act if former prime minister Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh.

Several police sources said they initially identified the voice as Rakibul’s. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), however, cited only “administrative reasons” for the withdrawal.

An office order issued by DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed on Thursday said Rakibul had been attached to the Central Reserve Office under the DMP’s administration division. The order took immediate effect.

The audio surfaced on social media on Wednesday night. In the recording, a person identifying himself as an OC makes critical remarks about the government, administration, army and police, and alleges political influence and financial transactions in police postings.

“I know Sheikh Hasina is coming in December. Nothing will happen, really, nothing,” the speaker says. “If she comes, this police force won’t be able to do anything.”

The speaker also alleges that senior police officers are supporting the BNP, while claiming that some serving officers do not share that political position.

The recording further alleges that a driver of a senior police official, identified as “Monir”, was involved in arranging OC postings in exchange for money.

“Those who are getting postings are paying him, and the postings are being made in the morning,” the speaker says.

The person in the recording also alleges that a senior official received Tk1 crore in connection with an assignment in Bhatara. 

He criticises the alleged practice of sidelining capable officers while appointing “incompetent people” to important positions. 

The audio also refers to former inspector general of police and former DMP commissioner Benazir Ahmed and contains allegations concerning police postings under different administrations.

The allegations made in the recording could not be independently verified.

The DMP order did not mention the audio clip or specify any disciplinary allegation against Rakibul, saying only that he was being withdrawn for administrative reasons.