Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Mortuza has issued an unconditional apology following public discontent over the police’s role in shutting down a panjabi shop of Nobin Fashion in the capital’s Moghbazar area.
On Sunday, he appeared in person before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman in Dhaka and submitted his explanation. He also offered an unconditional apology.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the same court had summoned him and granted three days to explain the incident involving the closure of the Nobin Fashion shop. The court also ordered the OC to visit the site within 24 hours and ensure that the shop was reopened.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman issued the order suo motu on Wednesday. On Sunday, Golam Mortuza appeared before the court, submitted his statement, and apologized unconditionally.
Public prosecutor Jamal Uddin Marjin stated that the OC appeared before the court, submitted his explanation, and sought unconditional pardon. The court has heard his statement. He further added that, on the day of the incident, several individuals introduced themselves as friends and relatives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The court has sought the prosecution’s opinion regarding those individuals. The court has kept its order pending regarding the OC’s apology.
The prosecutor also mentioned that Golam Mortuza has been removed from Hatirjheel Police Station following the incident.
It is noteworthy that, on March 20, a day before Eid-ul-Fitr, a video circulated on social media showing that neighbouring traders in Moghbazar forced the closure of the ‘Nobin Fashion’ shop for selling panjabis at lower prices. The neighbouring shopkeepers objected, comparing the low-priced sales to ‘relief distribution’. Police presence was also observed at the scene.