An officer-in-charge (OC) of Sirajganj’s Hatikumrul area has been closed to the Bogra Regional Office of Police over his reported negligence in duty.
The closed officer, Khairul Islam was acting as an OC of Hatikumrul Highway police outpost and he was replaced by Inspector Md Nurunabi of Tetulia Highway outpost police on Wednesday morning, said Bogra Regional Police Office sources.
Seeking anonymity, police sources claimed OC Khairul used to allow vehicles to cross the highway illicitly in return for bribes, defying the Covid-19 lockdown directives.
Not only that but also it has been alleged by the locals that several pickpockets and robbers used to continue their crime under the protection of the OC.
Though several complaints have been filed against the police officer, it came under the notice of the concerned authorities when a horrendous road accident took place on his watch.
On Tuesday, a Dhaka bound truck crashed into a CNG run three-wheeler--which was illegally operating on the Bogra-Nagarbari Highway in Shariatpur upazila-- killing three of a family on the spot.
Bogra Superintendent of Police Md Shahidullah confirmed the matter and said: "We took the public interest under consideration and as we received an order from the higher authorities, we saw it fit to close him for a while."
Contacted, the accused, Khairul Islam, who was still at the Hatikumrul police station till the filing of the report on Wednesday 11am, said: "I was informed of the order but do not know why my superiors took the decision."
