Four members of the Sylhet highway police have been suspended following a TIMES of Bangladesh report alleging harassment of a tourist during an anti-smuggling search in Jaintapur.
The four officers, all posted at Tamabil Highway Police Station, were suspended through an office order issued on Tuesday, said Dipak Jyoti Khrisha, superintendent of police of the Highway Police Sylhet Region.
He confirmed the suspension on Thursday afternoon, saying the officers were suspended based on preliminary findings and that an investigation was underway.
“Further action will be taken based on the investigation,” the SP said.
The suspension came on the same day TIMES published a report titled “Anti-smuggling checks turn ordeal for Sylhet tourists”.
The report said a bus carrying tourists was stopped and searched at Katagang in Jaintapur upazila on Tuesday.
During the search, one tourist was allegedly harassed over a blanket he had purchased while visiting Jaflong.
The tourist was later released with the help of fellow passengers and returned to Sylhet.
Dipak Jyoti said police have the legal authority to stop and search people or vehicles when there is suspicion of smuggling.
“Stopping and searching is not wrong. But we need to see whether anyone is being unnecessarily searched or harassed with the intention of causing trouble or extracting an undue benefit,” he said.
He said it was unacceptable to subject an ordinary person carrying a blanket to unnecessary questioning and put them in an embarrassing or harmful situation.
“Based on the preliminary information, the four police members involved in the incident have been temporarily suspended,” he said.
Anti-smuggling activities have intensified in Sylhet, a border region, with law enforcement agencies increasing surveillance and searches.
Tourists visiting popular destinations in the region have reportedly faced checks by highway police, regular police, tourist police and railway police.
Visitors travelling with their families have complained of being questioned and having their bags, vehicles and belongings searched at various points along roads and transport routes.
