‘This Police Force Can Do Nothing’

Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Rakibul Hasan has been withdrawn after an audio clip containing remarks that “the police will not be able to do anything if Sheikh Hasina returns to the country” went viral on social media.
Several police sources said they had initially identified the voice in the audio as that of Rakibul Hasan. However, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) order issued on Thursday cited “administrative reasons” for his withdrawal.

The order, signed by DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, attached Rakibul Hasan to the Central Reserve Office under the Headquarters and Administration Division of the DMP. The order stated that it would take effect immediately after issuance.
Efforts to contact OC Rakibul Hasan for his comments were unsuccessful.
The audio was circulated on social media on Wednesday night. In it, a person identifying himself as an OC was heard criticising the government, administration, army and police force. He also alleged political involvement among senior police officials and financial transactions in the posting of OCs.
In the audio, the person was heard saying, “I know Sheikh Hasina is coming in December. Nothing will happen, actually, nothing will happen. You can understand how weak the police on the streets are. Extremely weak. She should come. December is already late. She should have come this month. If she comes, this police will not be able to do anything.”

The person was also heard saying, “All the senior officers are doing BNP. We are not doing BNP. All the seniors are doing BNP, but we are not doing BNP. We did not join the department for this. You will eat and enjoy yourselves while we sit here and work, that cannot happen.”
The audio also contained an allegation that a driver of a senior police official named Monir was arranging postings of officers as OCs.
The speaker was heard saying, “Can this be tolerated? What else can I say? Those who are getting postings are paying him (Mr. Monir), and the postings are being made in the morning.”
Addressing the senior official, the speaker said he should be ashamed. He claimed that the official had previously been without a job and remarked that if he could remain in his current position for a year, he would automatically have Tk 10 billion.

Regarding OC postings, the person was heard saying, “Those commissioners of the Awami League (whose activities are currently banned) did not take money for OC postings. The OCs who were there during Benazir’s time were never transferred for money.”

He was referring to former Inspector General of Police and DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed.
The speaker was further heard saying, “DMP, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the capital city. Why would the OCs here pay money? OCs will go here anyway. You will get your work done and recover the money.”
Describing his experience of arranging work for senior officials, the person identifying himself as OC Rakibul was heard saying, “I got something done for a sir in Bhatara. Sir took Tk 1 crore. I did not know… (inaudible). I only have a relationship with him. This is the situation! Can anyone work like this? They are placing incompetent people wherever they want, while keeping competent people sidelined.”