A three-member committee has been formed to investigate Rowmari Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rafiur Rahman’s raid on the home of a local journalist in Kurigram, amid allegations that he targeted the journalist in retaliation for questioning one of his decisions.
The raid was reportedly conducted to search for drugs, but no drugs were found during the operation on Thursday.
The Kurigram district administration formed the committee following a call from the ministry seeking information about the incident. It will determine whether Rafiur had any ulterior motive in carrying out the operation at the home of Rafiqul Islam Saju, Rowmari upazila correspondent of the daily Manab Zamin.
The committee, headed by Kurigram Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) and with Rowmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahbubul Hasan as its member secretary, has been asked to submit its report by Sunday, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Deb Nath said.
The raid took place around 11am on Thursday when Rafiur went to Saju’s home in Sabuj Para accompanied by two police officers and several Ansar members.
Rafiur said he conducted the operation based on specific information. However, no drugs were found during the search, and he left without making any recovery.
Saju and local journalists alleged that household belongings were searched and left scattered during the operation.
Saju alleged that Rafiur conducted the raid without prior approval and with the intention of harassing him.
He said the AC Land became angry after Saju questioned him by phone on Wednesday about the cancellation of a citizen’s land mutation just three days after it had been completed, without issuing a notice or holding a hearing.
“He deliberately conducted the raid at my home to frame me out of a desire for revenge. It was illegal,” Saju alleged.
UNO Mahbubul Hasan said Rafiur had been assigned to oversee a fertilizer distribution point but went to Saju’s home on the way.
“He did not inform me before conducting the raid. I learned about it after the operation,” the UNO said.
Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Deb Nath said the ministry contacted her after reports about the raid were published.
Asked about allegations of retaliation, she said the investigation would determine whether Rafiur had an ulterior motive.
“There may have been some mischief involved. We had received some complaints against him earlier. He has already been transferred for this reason,” she said.
Rafiur has already been transferred and attached to the office of the Dhaka divisional commissioner following allegations of irregularities, including alleged bribery in land services and abuse of power.
Local journalists alleged that Rafiur had been angered by reports about his alleged irregularities and had targeted Saju and several other journalists.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
