Munshiganj (South) Correspondent 

ASI Mahfuzur Rahman of Sirajdikhan Police Station in Munshiganj has been closed (temporarily suspended) and attached to the Munshiganj Police Lines after allegedly taking bribe money meant for buying Benson cigarettes.

 On  Saturday last,  a youth named Md. Salman Kabir was allegedly forced to pay Tk 1,200 as a bribe to file a General Diary (GD) at the Sirajdikhan police station. It is reported that ASI Mahfuzur Rahman demanded the equivalent of three packs of Benson cigarettes as a condition for accepting the GD.

According to the victim Salman Kabir, he went to the police station around 7:30 PM on Saturday to file a GD regarding a lost passport. The on-duty officer, ASI Mahfuzur Rahman, initially showed reluctance to accept the GD. Salman stated, "He told me that since the passport was lost in Paltan, Dhaka, I should file the GD there. After repeated requests, he said, 'Then bring three packs of Benson cigarettes, or give the equivalent amount of money.' I then went to a shop near the police station pond and paid Tk 1,200 in cash."

When asked about the matter, ASI Mahfuzur Rahman initially pretended to be unaware of the allegations. Later, he told the reporter via WhatsApp to come to the police station.

Regarding the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Sirajdikhan Circle, A.N.M Imran Khan, said, "No money is required to get any work done at the police station. I am on leave; otherwise, I would have taken action against him (Mahfuz)."

On the night of the incident, SI Rozina was on duty until 8 PM, after which ASI Mahfuzur Rahman took over. Although the GD was entered under Rozina's name during the shift handover, the process was completed by Mahfuzur Rahman.

In light of the incident, the Munshiganj District Police authorities took the allegation seriously and immediately closed ASI Mahfuzur Rahman. They stated that if the allegations are proven after investigation, departmental action will be taken against him.