Savar OC withdrawn, following three colleagues

After the withdrawal of three police officers, the officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station has been withdrawn following an attack on two journalists by an alleged drug dealer and his associates in Savar on Friday.

Md Jahangir Alam, additional superintendent of police (Crime, Operations and Traffic) of Dhaka district police, said they had not yet received a written order, but OC Arman Ali was verbally withdrawn and attached to the police lines on the instructions of higher authorities.

Asked about the reason behind the decision, Jahangir Alam said the move came in the wake of the recent attack on two journalists while they were performing their professional duties.

He added that higher authorities may have believed the OC failed to fulfil the role expected of him.

Earlier on Saturday, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Moniruzzaman and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Ashifur Rahman and Merajul Islam of Savar Model Police Station were also withdrawn over allegations of maintaining communication with the main accused in the case, alleged drug dealer Md Shamim Reza, 35.

On Friday, two journalists were attacked while reporting in West Rajashan of Savar on May 22.

The victims were identified as Tayefur Rahman Tuhin, senior reporter of Desh TV, and Saddam Hossain, Savar correspondent of SA TV.

Desh TV cameraperson Qayyum and driver Joynal were also injured in the attack.

After receiving information about the incident, police rescued the journalists and sent them to hospital. Four people were later arrested in connection with the attack.

The same day, Desh TV Chief News Editor Md Fakhrul Islam Majumder filed a case with Savar Model Police Station, naming Shamim as the prime accused along with 21 others and 40 to 50 unidentified individuals.