Addl DIG suspended over uncovering of drug abuse at his residence

The government on Saturday suspended Additional Deputy Inspector General (Addl DIG) Abdullah Al Zahir after a probe found that his residence was being used for illegal and antisocial activities, including drug abuse.

He has also been transferred from Police Headquarters and attached to the Betbunia Police Special Training School (PSTS) in Rangamati, read a notification issued by the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry on Saturday.

He will receive only subsistence allowance during the suspension period, which will start on 25 October, the notification added, referring to disciplinary provisions under the “Citing the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.”

Addl DIG Abdullah Al Zahir’s involvement in the alleged alcoholic and drug consumption paints a negative perception about Bangladesh Police and contradict disciplinary norms, indicating inefficiency, the notification further said.

On 19 October, detectives under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) raided the house of Al Zahir at Police Housing Residential Area in Purbachal, Dhaka. During the three-hour raid, detectives seized a small amount of banned narcotics and four bottles of alcohol, while arresting 84 people, including 26 women from the house.

The arrestees were later sentenced to maximum one month in prison.