Nearly 800 Controversial Policemen Are On Run

In the effort to suppress anti-discrimination student movements, some senior police officers played controversial roles. These officers, who allegedly directed widespread harassment, detainment, torture, and indiscriminate shooting that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of students and civilians, are now reportedly missing. Around 800 police officers are being sought, and various rumors about their whereabouts are circulating on social media platforms like Facebook. There is ongoing discussion within the police force itself regarding their location.

Some reports suggest that these officers are under the protection of a special force, while others claim they may have fled the country with administrative assistance.

Among the missing are former SB chief Mohammad Monirul Islam, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former head of the DB unit Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, Joint Police Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarker, Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Jowardar, and former DIG of Dhaka district Syed Nurul Islam, among others. The actual locations of these officers and the reasons they have not yet been brought to justice remain shrouded in mystery. Multiple murder cases have been filed against these senior officers.

When asked about this, DIG Operations Rezaul Karim stated, "We are arresting or detaining those we can find. If we knew the whereabouts of the others, we would have apprehended them by now."

So far, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former IGP Shahidul Haq, and former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia have been arrested, but many top officials remain elusive.

According to police headquarters, following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, nearly 800 police members from various levels have not yet returned to work. Despite several directives to resume duty, there is no trace of these members, and police headquarters has no information on their whereabouts.

Sources indicate that in recent years, former SB chief Monirul Islam wielded immense influence within the police. Being a trusted ally of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he was effectively an unchallenged power within the police force. Former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun was reportedly unable to make decisions contrary to Monirul's directives.

Allegations suggest that Monirul Islam led meetings and provided directives to hardline Awami League officers, known as the "Police League," to suppress the movement. On August 5, he was reportedly taken to a safe location via helicopter from police headquarters but was later dismissed from his position. There are allegations of at least 20 murder cases against him, but law enforcement has yet to bring him to justice. There are speculations that he is either under the surveillance of a special force or has fled the country. However, his exact whereabouts remain unknown even after a month.

Former DB chief Harun-or-Rashid was particularly active in suppressing the student movement. Harun, a BCS 20th batch officer from Mithamain, Kishoreganj, reportedly took an aggressive role in detaining and torturing movement organizers and arresting BNP-Jamaat members. On August 5, he also vanished after allegedly scaling the walls of police headquarters. There have been various rumors about his condition, including reports of severe injury and hospitalization by a special force or fleeing the country. With at least 50 murder cases against him, he remains at large.

The largest number of casualties occurred in Dhaka, and it was under the orders of former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman that police members across eight divisions indiscriminately shot at civilians. Habibur Rahman, a BCS 17th batch officer from Gopalganj, was also taken to safety by helicopter on August 5 but has since disappeared. He faces around fifty murder cases, but law enforcement has not yet apprehended him.

Joint Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarker of the DMP, who was known for his strict measures against the movement, has been missing since August 5. There are speculations that he has left the country, and he faces around 35 murder cases.

Former CTTC chief DIG Asaduzzaman, known for his role in counter-terrorism, has also been accused of arresting and labeling many Jamaat members as militants. He faces at least five murder cases but remains elusive.

At least 25 other controversial police officers are still missing. Among the 27 missing members from the DMP, there are eight officers of the rank of ASP to DIG, including Additional Commissioner Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid and Joint Commissioners Biplab Sarker, Mehedi Hasan, Khondkar Nurun Nabi, and others.