Staff Reporter:
The Bangladesh Police have officially apologised for the harassment of a mugging victim by officers at the Mohammadpur Police Station on Thursday night.
On Friday evening, the police said in a facebook post that they are sorry for the ill-conduct of officers.
Noting the allegations by the victim on social media, the “Bangladesh Police” has already transferred four personnel to the office of Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner, it said in its evening FB post.
Three of the alleged muggers have also been detained with the stolen smartphone, it added.
Earlier, Ahmad Wadud, posted on Facebook describing how he was mugged around 11:00PM on Thursday in the Mohammadpur area. According to his post, muggers took his phone, wallet, and some cash, also injuring him with a machete. His wife, who was nearby, remained unharmed.
Wadud wrote that the location of the mugging was just a three-minute walk from Mohammadpur Police Station. He and his wife reached the station within five minutes of the incident. However, he was met with indifference. SI Jasim was reportedly dismissive, while a plainclothes officer harshly told him to button his shirt instead of focusing on his complaint.
Despite requesting help, officers initially refused to register the complaint or provide basic assistance like a pen. When he eventually wrote it himself, he was only given a phone number for ASI Anarul, who was allegedly “busy” elsewhere.
Wadud said he asked police to accompany him back to the scene immediately, believing the muggers might still be there. But SI Jasim refused, reportedly saying, “Use your common sense. Why would muggers wait for you?”
Frustrated, Wadud approached the Officer-in-Charge (OC), Iftekhar Hasan, who reportedly said, “Even I use a cheap phone. If you walk around with an expensive one, of course you’ll be mugged.”
Later, Wadud met with ASI Anarul, who along with a team, eventually agreed to go to the crime scene. Despite a 40-minute delay, Wadud said he spotted the muggers still present at the location. However, instead of confronting them, ASI Anarul allegedly stood aside and let the suspects leave, showing no urgency.
