Special Correspondent

Serious allegations of professional misconduct, administrative immunity, and severe personal scandals have surfaced against Mohammad Zahirul Islam, an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and former Magura Superintendent of Police (SP), currently holding the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police.

Despite being named as a key accused in a murder case linked to the July revolution, Zahirul has reportedly evaded justice while benefiting from high-level promotions. Furthermore, a Dhaka tribunal has now issued a formal arrest warrant against him in a rape case filed over allegations of physical relationship under the false promise of marriage.

According to case documents, one Jahangir, a resident of Pabna Sadar, was killed in shooting and beating during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Kuril area under Bhatara Police Station on July 20, 2024. On February 24 this year, a case (No. 5) was filed with Bhatara Police Station by one Shafiqul Islam. Additional DIG Zahirul Islam was named as accused No. 5 for his alleged involvement in the violent crackdown alongside forces of the ousted regime. Reports suggest that despite the serious murder charge, Zahirul managed to avoid arrest by influencing senior officials, securing a promotion to Additional DIG instead.

Police Headquarters has reportedly received written complaints from at least nine women, including female police personnel, against Zahirul. During his tenure as Magura SP, Zahirul reportedly developed an illicit relationship with Sonia Evana, the wife of a subordinate inspector, and later married her. Prior to this, his objectionable media content circulated widely on social media platforms. In another instance, when a Sub-Inspector (SI) in Sreepur, Magura, resisted Zahirul’s inappropriate advances toward his wife, the SI was suspended. When the SI's wife met the SP to request the withdrawal of the suspension order, Zahirul allegedly made inappropriate physical demands. The interaction was subsequently leaked as an audio recording to the media.

Zahirul’s first wife, Fahima Akter, stated that after their marriage in 1999 during their student years, she funded his education and BCS examination preparation through her earnings as a primary school teacher. Following his commissioning in the 24th BCS (Police) cadre and eventual posting as Magura SP, his behavior reportedly turned abusive.

Fahima alleged that despite their divorce, Zahirul and his second wife, Sonia, have continued to harass her through mental torture and by filing around 10 false general diaries (GDs) and cases across various police stations. She submitted formal complaints to both the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Home Secretary, noting that Zahirul also breached a commitment made in January 2025 before senior officers to provide monthly educational expenses for their younger son.

The most significant legal setback for the controversial officer came recently when the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 of Dhaka issued an arrest warrant against him. The case statement reveals that Zahirul developed a relationship with the complainant in January 2021 while serving as Magura SP, promising to marry her after divorcing his first wife. Exploiting this commitment, he established physical relations with her on multiple occasions at his official residence in Magura, the office rest house, and her residence in Dhaka.

When the complainant pressured him to formalize the marriage on July 13, 2025, Zahirul refused and threatened her with dire consequences. The victim lodged a GD with Bhatara Police Station on July 15, 2025, and submitted a written complaint to the IGP. On May 20 this year, she filed a petition case (No. 23/26) with the Dhaka tribunal. Following a court-ordered judicial inquiry, Special Metropolitan Magistrate Mahmudul Haq submitted an investigation report confirming the authenticity of the allegations. Taking the report into formal cognizance, Judge Muntasir Ahmed of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 of Dhaka issued the arrest warrant on Monday.

Despite widespread allegations, leaked objectionable videos, and multiple formal complaints, the police department has so far only transferred Zahirul from Mymensingh to Police Headquarters in Dhaka as an attached/OSD officer. Human rights advocates and members of the public have raised strong demands to send the accused officer on compulsory retirement immediately and execute the court's arrest warrant to restore the professional image of the Bangladesh Police force.

He was contacted via WhatsApp for a statement regarding these allegations, but he did not respond.