Anti drug raid in Bobby Hajjaj’s name conducted without police notice amid Ishraque controversy
State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj
Amid nationwide debate and tensions over a drug raid conducted by former State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and Dhaka 6 lawmaker Ishraque Hossain while carrying a firearm, an anti drug operation was conducted in the Geneva Camp area of Mohammadpur from the office of Dhaka 13 lawmaker and State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj without notifying the police. During the operation, a 30 year old man named Arif Hossain was beaten and suffered a head injury that left his scalp split open.
As the political arena and various other quarters continue to discuss Ishraque Hossain’s drug raid while carrying a firearm, the method used in the operation in Mohammadpur and allegations that a young man was injured have raised fresh questions.
Local sources said an anti drug operation was conducted at around 11 pm on Sunday in the College Gate area of Geneva Camp from the office of Bobby Hajjaj, a lawmaker from Dhaka 13 and the state minister for education. Four to five young men, including Sudin and Jisan, took part in the operation under the leadership of Intishar Mashuk Pradhan, executive assistant to Bobby Hajjaj. They are known in the area as associates of the lawmaker.
However, Mashuk Pradhan denied that the operation had taken place. He said no operation had been conducted from the lawmaker’s office. He said a civic organization operates in the area and sometimes conducts such operations. He added, "That operation was not conducted by the honorable MP. No such operation was conducted on behalf of the honorable MP."
It was learned that Arif was detained while allegedly using drugs during the operation. He was subsequently beaten and sustained a head injury that left his scalp split open. After he was handed over to the police in an injured condition, he was taken to the emergency department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. After receiving treatment there, he was taken to the police station. Arif received four stitches on his head.
Asked whether the police station had been informed about the operation in Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur Police Station Officer in Charge Abdul Halim said the station had not been notified before the anti drug operation. However, after a man’s head was injured, the police were called and he was placed in a vehicle while injured.
The young man named Arif was sent to a doctor for a drug test. The doctor confirmed that he had used drugs. He was shown arrested under the law concerning drug consumption and sent to court.
Meanwhile, the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) conducted an operation on Monday afternoon at the location where Ishraque had carried out an anti drug raid while holding a firearm. The DNC detained 15 people after conducting raids in several slums near the railway station in the Dayaganj Ghuntighar Rail Gate area.
Anwar Hossain, deputy director of the Dhaka Metro South office, told Agamir Somoy that the 15 detainees were sentenced to three months in jail and fined Tk 100 each through a mobile court. Various items used for drug consumption were also seized during the operation.
