CMP chief says police will not bear responsibility for anti-state activities

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali has said the police force will not take responsibility for the alleged anti-state activities of Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Jahangir Alam, describing them as the officer's personal responsibility.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at his office on Sunday (November 15).

Shawkat Ali said any officer involved in such activities would be held personally responsible and that the police force would not bear liability for an individual's actions.

Regarding the case against Jahangir, the CMP commissioner said the case statement was received by CMP on Saturday and subsequently filed with Panchlaish Police Station.

As the case involved allegations of sedition, prior government approval was required under the law. After receiving the approval, police registered it as a regular case, he said.

Jahangir was arrested shortly after the case was filed and is currently in the custody of the CMP's Special Response Unit (SRU), which will also investigate the case, the commissioner added.

He said the officer would be produced before a court on Sunday in accordance with legal procedures.

Asked whether the incident had created psychological pressure within the police force, Shawkat Ali said there was no reason for such concern, as the allegations concerned the officer's personal conduct.

He also warned that anyone involved in anti-state activities would face the strictest legal action.

Earlier, Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohammad Abdul Quddus Chowdhury said messages were found on Jahangir's mobile phones concerning plans to rehabilitate the activities of the banned Awami League by December.

According to the DIG, one of the messages reportedly mentioned taking to the streets while risking one's life.

He said the officer's personal and official mobile phones were seized after police received information from reliable sources. The devices were subsequently sent to the Special Branch (SB) at Police Headquarters in Dhaka for forensic examination.

Following the forensic examination, which reportedly confirmed the relevant information, authorities began preparing an inquiry report and initiating legal proceedings.

Police allege that Jahangir maintained contact with leaders of the banned Awami League and communicated with individuals regarding plans for ousted and fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh in December.

He is also accused of sharing sensitive internal police information with Awami League leaders.

The sedition case was filed at Panchlaish Police Station around 10:30pm on Saturday, with approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abul Kashem Chowdhury of the Chattogram Range Reserve Force (RRF) filed the case.

Jahangir was subsequently arrested from the Officers' Mess in Chattogram.

He belongs to the 28th Bangladesh Civil Service (Police) batch and joined the police force on December 1, 2010.

In a separate case, former Officer-in-Charge of Dhaka Cantonment Police Station Rakibul Hasan was also charged with sedition. He was arrested in that case and is currently in jail.

sks