Bangladesh police inspector withdrawn following rape allegations in Noakhali

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

A police inspector in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila has been withdrawn from his post and attached to the district police lines following allegations of raping a teenage girl. The move came after a video of the victim’s mother detailing the incident circulated on social media, sparking widespread concern and scrutiny over the conduct of the officer, identified as Khorshed Alam, who served as the in-charge of the Jahajmara police investigation center.

According to the victim’s mother, the assault took place approximately six months ago at the mess of the Jahajmara police investigation center. In her public account, she stated that she immediately reported the incident to the assistant superintendent of police (ASP) for the Hatiya circle. She alleged that while officials collected written statements at the time, two local residents intervened on behalf of the accused, coercing the family into signing blank documents. The mother claimed that their family has been living in hiding for the past four months due to mounting fear and intimidation.

Contacted for comment, Hatiya Circle ASP Nurul Anwar did not respond to multiple phone calls. Meanwhile, Inspector Khorshed Alam has categorically denied the allegations. In a statement to the press, the 60-year-old officer suggested the accusations were part of a smear campaign orchestrated by a sub-inspector with whom he had a professional dispute. He maintained his innocence, asserting that he was being framed to damage his social reputation.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Calls for Quota Reinstatement to Address Declining Female Representation in Civil Service

Read More

District Superintendent of Police T.M. Mosharraf Hossain confirmed the officer’s withdrawal on Sunday. He noted that the initial allegations were investigated by the circle’s ASP, whose previous report found no evidence to support the claims. However, given the emergence of the social media footage, authorities have decided to initiate a fresh inquiry. The police department has pledged to verify the authenticity of the latest claims and take appropriate legal action based on the findings of the new investigation.