OC loses chair over DO letter, junior minister Shahe Alam back to discussion

Muhammad Sharif, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadarghat Police Station under the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), has been withdrawn and attached to the respective Police Lines. Despite holding the rank of Police Inspector, he was widely discussed within the CMP as "OC Sharif," considered one of the most powerful officers.

His withdrawal order, coming just 17 days into his joining, has sparked intense discussion within the city police. Without citing any specific reason, Acting CMP Commissioner Wahidul Haque Chowdhury issued the order to withdraw him from the station yesterday, Sunday night.

Amid various speculations, it has been revealed that Sharif was withdrawn on the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs over serious allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and politically biased activities. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued this directive based on a Demi-Official (DO) letter sent by Mir Shahe Alam, the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives. The DO letter was cited as the reference in the directive sent from the Home Ministry to the Police Headquarters.

Acting CMP Commissioner Wahidul Haque Chowdhury stated that the investigation process into the allegations against OC Sharif has begun. Speaking to Agamir Somoy, he said, "He was withdrawn following directives from higher authorities. Since certain issues have been raised, they will be scrutinized. A Deputy Commissioner has been tasked with the investigation."

An official order issued yesterday, Sunday, signed by Nasrin Sultana, Deputy Secretary of the Police-2 branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), said that media reports and related data concerning Muhammad Sharif revealed serious allegations, including corruption, extortion, illegal financial transactions, accumulation of wealth disproportionate to known sources of income, abuse of administrative power, and serving personal and vested interests. The order directed that these allegations be investigated, legal action be taken, and the ministry be notified of the outcome.

Confirming the authenticity of the official order, Deputy Secretary Nasrin Sultana told Agamir Somoy, "The letter was drafted and sent to the Police Headquarters exactly as directed by our Secretary Sir."

State Minister Mir Shahé Alam sent the DO letter (Letter No. – 47.00.0000.001.25.2026-561) on July 1. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bogura-2 constituency. A wave of curiosity has emerged within the city police as to why an MP from Bogura, who also serves as a State Minister, would issue a DO letter regarding a CMP station OC.

To obtain a statement regarding the contents of the DO letter, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam was called multiple times on his mobile phone, but he did not respond. Text messages sent to his mobile and WhatsApp also went unanswered. The State Minister’s Assistant Private Secretary (APS), Towhidul Islam Titu, did not answer his phone calls either.

When contacted by phone, the State Minister's Private Secretary (PS), Mohammad Tasnimuzzaman, was reached by this correspondent. When asked about the DO letter, he said, "We send out many DO letters. I cannot recall if we sent something like this. You should rather speak with the Honorable State Minister."

When informed that the State Minister was not picking up calls, Tasnimuzzaman advised contacting the Information and Public Relations Officer of the State Minister's office.

While serving as an inspector in the CMP's Detective Branch (DB-South), Muhammad Sharif was posted as the OC of Karnaphuli Police Station on December 17, 2024. A month and a half later, on February 6, 2025, the OC sparked controversy by attending the wedding ceremony of the daughter of Hossain Talukdar, an Awami League leader from Charlakshya Union of Karnaphuli Upazila. Allegations also surfaced against him at the time for releasing a businessman and a UP member from a police vehicle while they were being brought to the station after detention. Accusations of maintaining ties with ousted Awami League leaders and engaging in arrest extortion were leveled against him back then.

In July 2025, following the death of a 10-year-old child named Jihad in Charlakshya Union, local residents formed a human chain against OC Sharif, accusing him of extorting money under the guise of an autopsy and later bribing the child's mother to suppress the matter. He was also widely discussed for his alleged ties to smuggling syndicates operating around the Karnaphuli River.

Furthermore, during his tenure as a CID inspector, serious irregularities were alleged against Sharif regarding the investigation of a foreign currency recovery case. Consequently, the court had ordered OC Sharif to appear in person on October 22, 2025. He had submitted a charge sheet to the court without presenting vital seized evidence (proof) and without even preserving it in his own custody.

On October 22, 2025, Sharif was transferred from Karnaphuli Police Station to the CMP Special Branch. From there, he was reassigned as an inspector in the Estate and Building branch on December 14. Finally, on June 18, he was given charge as the OC of Sadarghat Police Station.

An inspector working in the CMP stated that despite facing heavily controversial allegations during his time at Karnaphuli Police Station, Muhammad Sharif had recently grown powerful again. He played a behind-the-scenes role in the postings of OCs at various police stations. He pulled strings to deprive several officers known for being efficient and smart by raising various political controversies against them.

Alongside these allegations, a feud between Muhammad Sharif and an Additional DIG-rank officer is also a major talking point within the CMP.

However, Muhammad Sharif claimed that not a single allegation against him is true. He said, "I am just a minor, Inspector-level officer. Why would I do such things and harm myself for no reason? False and baseless allegations are being fabricated against me in a planned manner. A senior officer has misunderstood me and gone after me. I have tried to explain things to him repeatedly, but he continues to harm me by lodging various complaints against me in different places."

Sharif suspects that State Minister Mir Shahe Alam's DO letter was also instigated by that same Additional DIG-rank officer.