Additional DIG attached to Police Headquarters, Abdullah Al Zahir, was reassigned days after the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained 84 young men and women during an anti-narcotics raid at a house he had rented out in Vatara, Dhaka.
Al Zahir, a supernumerary additional DIG, was serving in the Repair and Maintenance branch of Police Headquarters before the latest administrative decision.
An office order signed by Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Tuesday confirmed the transfer, directing that the order take effect immediately.
Raid on Airbnb property
A team from the DB’s Uttara Division conducted the midnight operation on Monday at the residence located in Vatara Residential Area (Police Housing-1), based on intelligence reports of overnight DJ parties, drug consumption, and narcotics trading.
DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam confirmed the raid and detentions, mentioning that the house owned by the Additional DIG had been let out online through Airbnb.
According to DB sources, regular drug gatherings and DJ parties took place at the property, attracting men and women of various ages.
Narcotics were seized during the operation, and a total of 84 or 85 individuals – comprising 26 women and 58 men, including a citizen of Afghanistan – were apprehended from the site.
Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said the individuals who rented the property online utilised it for narcotics-related activities, adding that legal action is being taken and a process is underway to penalise the detained persons through judicial trial.
Attempts were made to contact Additional DIG Abdullah Al Zahir on his mobile phone to inquire about the raid, but he could not be reached.
