Police have arrested Sabbir Bin Shams, the former executive director of Centre for Research and Information (CRI) – the research wing of the Awami League – from the Dahagram-Angarpota border area in Patgram Upazila of Lalmonirhat.
The arrest took place around 10am on Saturday as he was attempting to enter Bangladesh from India illegally.
Acting on a tip-off, Patgram police conducted the operation in the border-adjacent area.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) Najmul Haque confirmed the arrest later that night. Upon his arrest, police recovered a Bangladeshi passport from him.
According to police sources, Shams had fled to India illegally following the political transition on 5 August 2024 and had been staying there since. He is currently facing a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
During initial interrogation, Shams confirmed his identity. In addition to his role at CRI, he has held significant government positions, serving as a director general (DG) at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as a minister at Bangladesh High Commission in London.
OC Najmul said the process of filing a case against him for illegal entry is underway. For more intensive questioning, Shams has been transferred to the custody of District Detective Branch (DB).
Lalmonirhat Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Asaduzzaman noted that the detainee is being interrogated and that authorities are verifying if there are other pending cases against him in various police stations across the country.
