2 policemen suspended for helping Nepalese escape
The suspended officers are Kamrul Islam, inspector, Detective Branch, and Dipankar Chakma, assistant sub inspector of Ramna Police Station
Two members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, including an inspector, have been suspended for alleged involvement in helping Nepalese nationals to escape soon after the crackdown against casinos began.
The suspended officers are Kamrul Islam, inspector, Detective Branch, and Dipankar Chakma, assistant sub inspector of Ramna Police Station.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner revealed this at a courtesy meeting with the leaders of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh at his office on Thursday.
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The commissioner also said they were collecting information from intelligence agencies to determine if any member of the Bangladesh Police was involved.
Stern and immediate action will be taken against those who are involved in the incident, he added.
At least 19 Nepalese nationals ran away when the Rapid Action Battalion raided several clubs in Motijheel on Wednesday.
They eventually took shelter at a house in the capital's Segunbagicha area. CCTV footage of that house shows that three people entered the building and one of them was holding a walky-talky in his hand.
Several media outlets reported that some intelligence agency personnel entered the building and stayed at least one and a half hours on its fifth floor where the Nepalese stayed after the raid.
Abdul Baten, additional commissioner of the detective branch, said: "We have identified the three people who helped the Nepalese. These officials are on our radar and legal action will be taken against them."
Earlier on Tuesday, at a briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police media centre, Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam said no evidence suggests that the trio are from the police department.
He also suggested that the media should not write or publish any name without proof or confirmation.
Earlier, detective sources said that about 15-20 sports clubs began a casino business in Dhaka by hiring Nepalese and Thai citizens. Six influential political leaders had been operating the business with more than 100 foreigners as staff.
