Ex-NHRC chief: Transfer of Gaibandha SP ‘great intellectual fraud’

Transfer of Gaibandha Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Ashraful Islam to Khagrachhari cannot be considered a punishment, rather it is a 'great intellectual fraud', former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Md Mizanur Rahman has observed. He came up with the statement at a report launching programme at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka in the morning today. Mizanur said, “It’s a transferable job for an SP. How come state transfers him to Khagrachhari as punishment?” “People understand this. People are not that fool. State cannot betray its citizens,” he added. Human rights Activist Khushi Kabir also raised her eyebrows over the decision, saying “how the SP gets transferred to Khagrachhari?” Both of them have urged for the SP's suspension while the investigation is going on. SP Md Ashraful Islam was transferred following the arrest of former MP Abdul Kader Khan in connection with the murder of Gaibandha MP Liton. The Home Ministry on Thursday published a statement that said Ashraful would now serve as the Commander of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn)-6 in Khagrachhari. Manjurul Islam Liton, ruling party MP from Gaibandha-1 (Sundarganj), was shot dead at his home on December 31 last year, and before that in November, three Santal men were killed and 30 people, including nine policemen, were injured in a clash with law enforcers and workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gobindaganj. Ashraful was the SP during both the incidents. Some Santal houses were torched during the latter incident and police members reportedly played active role in that arson attack on Santals. On December 14 last year, the High Court directed Gaibandha’s chief judicial magistrate to investigate police involvement in the arson attack on Santal homes. SP Md Ashraful Islam was transferred on Friday, three days after the arrest of former former lawmaker Abdul Quader Khan over the murder of Gaibandha 1 Awami League MP Manjurul Islam Liton.