Tk 49 lakh from a coaching centre lands in a Rajshahi woman police sergeant's account, source unexplained
A woman sergeant of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) received nearly Tk 50 lakh from a coaching centre, according to bank documents. She has declined to say why or for what reason she took such a large sum. The person she took the money from is involved in the politics of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The sergeant's name is Sabiha Akter. The institution she took the money from is Neuron Nursing Coaching Centre, whose proprietor, Saiful Islam, is a former convenor of the NCP's Rajshahi district committee.
The transaction was made through Exim Bank. According to the transaction documents, on 30 August 2022, Tk 50 lakh in cash was deposited into the bank account of Neuron Nursing Coaching Centre. Later the same day, Tk 49 lakh was transferred to Sergeant Sabiha Akter's account. The large transaction has raised questions.
Asked about the money from the coaching centre reaching her account, Sergeant Sabiha Akter said, 'Why only Tk 50 lakh, Tk 1 crore or Tk 2 crore could also come into my account.' Asked about the source of the money, she said, 'Ask the person who gave the money. I am not obliged to account to journalists.'
She made the remarks last Monday afternoon at the RMP traffic office, in the room of Traffic Inspector (Administration) Anwar Hossain and in his presence.
The following Tuesday at 9 pm she went to meet Saiful Islam at Lakshmipur Jhautala crossing in the city. She was seen sitting face to face with Saiful Islam in front of a dental care centre and talking with him. She was in uniform at the time.
Asked about the transfer of the large sum to Sabiha's bank account, Neuron Nursing Coaching Centre proprietor Saiful Islam at first expressed inability to say anything. Later, asked about the source of the money, he said, 'Actually, Sergeant Sabiha took the money from another person. But she did not want to take it directly from him. So that person gave me the cash. I put it into my bank account and transferred it to Sabiha's account. Now I am in trouble for doing a favour.'
Ahmed Shafiuddin, president of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) in Rajshahi district, believes this mysterious transaction needs to be investigated. He said, 'Everyone knows corruption happens in the traffic department. From the top level to the bottom, everyone benefits in some way. So if there is a transaction inconsistent with income, it should be investigated.'
Asked about the matter, RMP spokesperson and Detective Branch (DB) Deputy Police Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said, 'If money comes from an institution's bank account to Sergeant Sabiha's personal account, that is her personal matter. The traffic division has a chief; I do not know whether he knows about it. But we do not investigate anyone's personal bank account transactions unless a complaint comes to us.'
