It defies all common sense that a police officer of the rank of inspector should continue to serve in the force despite the fact that he was accused of forgery, land grabbing, and attempted murder in a case filed against him on December 10, 2017, in Chapainawabganj, while he was posted in Pabna as a district intelligence officer. But instead of being suspended on getting bail after a month, which is what the service rule stipulates, he was transferred to Puthia police station as its OC. Reportedly, he has many misdeeds under his belt like land grabbing, extortion and tampering with FIR, which he indulged in with apparent impunity exploiting his political link even after he continued to serve as OC, as an accused in a criminal case and evading suspension.

The case of police inspector Shakil Uddin Ahamed, the officer in question, is a glaring example of the extent of injury that law and order can suffer when senior police officers in positions of command choose to ignore the rules and allow an accused member of the force to not only serve but also serve in important positions. It is difficult to believe that his superior officer, the SP of Rajshahi, was not aware of the fact that Shakil happens to be an accused in a criminal case. It was only after the HC directive following a murder case filed against Shakil that he was suspended, with retrospective effect.

It is a sad state of things that those who are supposed to uphold the rule of law and enforce it should connive with the criminal elements to violate it. We understand there is a litany of misdeeds by Shakil in his current appointment as also in his immediate past position, for which there should be a judicial, not a departmental, probe. Only that can identify the strengths behind Shakil. And they must all be held to account.