Sweets distributed in Satkhira after suspension of ex- Satkhira SP Moniruzzaman

August 12, 2025, 7:20 pm

Satkhira Correspondent

Local leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Satkhira have erupted in joy over the temporary suspension of former Satkhira police superintendent and former deputy commissioner of DMP Kazi Moniruzzaman.

After receiving the news of the suspension, they offered thanks to Allah and distributed sweets in different parts of the city. During his tenure, he has been accused of various irregularities and corruption, including extorting money by threatening to use crossfire, looting gold, suppressing dissent, having extramarital affairs with multiple women, and returning home after drinking alcohol almost at night.

Locals said that Moniruzzaman has become a 'terror' for BNP and Jamaat workers since he took charge as Satkhira's police superintendent in August 2022.

A journalist from Tala Upazila said that he was detained by the former DB OC and demanded Tk 1 million, but was later released after paying Tk 7 million. In 2023, a complaint against him for looting 20 gold bars was also filed at the police headquarters, but no action was taken at that time.

He was transferred to the post of Deputy Commissioner of DMP in December last year and was attached to the office of Rangpur Range DIG after the fall of the Awami League government.

A notification from the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs said that he has been temporarily suspended for the crime of 'misconduct and absconding' as per the government employee rules for being absent from work without permission from the authorities since November 25 last year. He will receive food allowance during the suspension.

Kazi Moniruzzaman was recklessly addicted to illegal money throughout his tenure as the Superintendent of Police. It is alleged that while he was in Satkhira district, he turned the Superintendent of Police office and police stations into strongholds of lawlessness.

At least 10 people who were victims of Moniruzzaman's personal attacks and torture in Satkhira district, where he used to work, have been interviewed. The victims allege that Moniruzzaman would selectively arrest wealthy people. He would then extort large sums of money by filing false cases and threatening to crossfire. It is also alleged that Kazi Moniruzzaman formed a special team in plain clothes to loot gold shipments from abroad that were smuggled through the Satkhira border.

It is learnt that Kazi Moniruzzaman became the Superintendent of Police of Satkhira district in August 2022. Before that, he served as the SP of Satkhira Sadar Circle in 2013. He also became the best Superintendent of Police of Khulna Range.

However, after becoming the Superintendent of Police, he became reckless. Using his political influence, he started atrocities - torture and money looting in the name of suppressing opposition views.

Satkhira Municipal BNP President Masum Billah Shaheen, who was tortured, said that on May 27, 2023, some people in plain clothes picked him up in a microbus from the High Court area of the capital. Then he was tortured several times. At one stage, a member of the party said, where no Awami League MP dares to speak, you go and fight with Moniruzzaman Sir. Sir says to tear your liver and weigh it.

Masum Billah Shaheen said that when he went to the High Court to seek bail, he was picked up in a microbus in plain clothes from the High Court area. Later, he was arrested with weapons from Shyamnagar, Satkhira. He was blindfolded and brought from Dhaka to Satkhira. On the way, he was taken out of the car several times and threatened with crossfire. Masum Billah alleged that SP Moniruzzaman tortured him and vandalized his house due to a dispute with his brother.

A source in the Satkhira district police said that on the orders of Moniruzzaman, they would conduct raids throughout the day and arrest opposition leaders and activists. Then, after midnight, they would be presented before Moniruzzaman. There, depending on the economic status of the detainees, they would be extorted from them Tk 50,000 to Tk 50 lakh. Those who could not pay were harassed with various cases.

Talking to various victims, it was learned that he looted more than 100 crore taka in one and a half years while he was the Superintendent of Police of Satkhira district.

The victim's family has already filed a case of murder against him.

We spoke to BNP leader Abdur Rouf, chairman of Alipur Union in the district, who is a victim of Moniruzzaman's bribery. He claims that Kazi Moniruzzaman took 1.4 million taka from him by detaining him at different times and threatening him with crossfire. Journalists were not spared from Moniruzzaman's torture either. A local journalist named Hasan said that Moniruzzaman took him away and threatened him with disappearance and extorted 2.6 million taka from his family. His family is now almost destitute because of this SP.

Talking to various victims, it is learned that he looted more than 100 crore taka in one and a half years while he was the police superintendent of Satkhira district. It is alleged that he spent a lot of money to get a posting in the intelligence department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He was the darling of the police's controversial DIG Harun Ur Rashid.

The notification of this dismissal was issued by the Police-1 Branch of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday (July 10, 2025). The notification is signed by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nasimul Gani.

The notification mentioned that former DMP Deputy Commissioner Kazi Moniruzzaman, attached to the office of the Rangpur Range DIG, has been absent from work since November 25 last year without permission from the authorities. This is a punishable offence of 'misconduct and absconding' as per sections 3(b) and 3(c) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. Earlier, three police officers, including the former Additional DIG of Chittagong, were also suspended under the same rules.

The notification also mentioned that he will receive food allowance during the period of suspension. Kazi Moniruzzaman was appointed as the Superintendent of Police of Satkhira on August 3, 2022. During his tenure, various allegations were raised, including extortion by threatening crossfire, looting of gold and suppression of dissent.