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Harun-or-Rashid (police officer)

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Harun-or-Rashid
হারুন-অর-রশিদ
Rashid at the US Embassy Dhaka in 2023
Chief of DMP Detective Branch
In office
13 July 2022 – 31 July 2024[1]
Appointed byMinister of Home Affairs
Succeeded byMd Ashrafuzzaman[2]
Personal details
BornMithamain, Kishoreganj District, Bangladesh
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
Police Training
Bangladesh Police Academy
Awards BPM (bar)
PPM (bar)
Military service
Rank DIG
Police career
UnitDhaka Metropolitan Police
Allegiance Bangladesh
DepartmentCrime and operations division
Branch Bangladesh Police
Service years2001–2024
Criminal statusFugitive, at large
Criminal chargeCrimes against humanity during Student–People's uprising, corruption, extortion

Harun-or-Rashid (Bengali: হারুন-অর-রশিদ; commonly known as DB Harun) is a former police officer who served as the chief of the DMP detective branch of Bangladesh police.[3][4][5] On 13 August 2024, he was named as one of the 7 accused in the illegal shooting and killing of various students across Dhaka during the Bangladesh Quota Reform Movement along with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former minister Obaidul Quader, former minister Asaduzaman Khan Kamal and police officer Biplob Kumar Sarker.[6][7][8] He is known for his controversial actions.[9][10][11]

Early life

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He was born in Hossainpur village, Mithamain Upazila, Kishoreganj. His parents are Abdul Hashem and Jahura Khatun. He pursued his academic career in sociology, earning both an honours and an MSS degree from the University of Dhaka. He later completed his LLB from Jahangirnagar University.[12]

Career

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Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of the Lalbagh Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, assaulted Zainul Abedin Farroque, Bangladesh Nationalist Party's member of parliament and chief opposition whip, during an anti-government protest.[13] A. B. M. Ashraf Uddin, member of parliament, filed attempted murder case of Zainul Abedin Farroque against 25 police officers including Harun-or-Rashid and ASP Biplob Kumar Sarker.[14] Mohammad Hasibul Haque, Dhaka metropolitan magistrate, rejected the case against the police officers on 4 September 2012.[14]

On 9 December 2012, Harun-or-Rashid was present at the murder of Biswajit Das but did not intervene.[13]

In February 2013, Harun-or-Rashid was awarded a medal by Bangladesh Police which The Daily Star described sarcastically as an award for beating up an opposition member of parliament.[13]

Harun-or-Rashid was elected secretary general of the Bangladesh Police Service Association in January 2016 while Asaduzzaman Mia was president of the association.[15] On 5 May 2016, Sub Inspector Azharul Islam demanded 50 million taka from Amber Denim, part of Amber Group which Showkat Aziz Russell owned, and threatened to destroy his business on behalf of his senior officer Harun-or-Rashid.[16] Showkat Aziz Russell sent letters to various branches of the government and trade bodies seeking protection from Harun-or-Rashid, then superintendent of police of Gazipur District.[16][17] Harun-or-Rashid provided an address in the United States where he demanded the money be sent.[18] Journalists in Gazipur District reported being harassed by personnel of Detective Branch for reporting on extortion activities of Harun-or-Rashid.[19] He was briefly transferred following allegations by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that he was supporting government candidates during local elections.[20]

On 2 December 2018, Harun-or-Rashid was appointed superintendent of police of Narayangaj District before the general election after the previous superintendent of police Anisur Rahman was transferred on the request of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as his wife Fatema Tuzzahura was a member of parliament of the Awami League.[20] Bangladesh Nationalist Party used the expression "Out of the frying pan into the fire" to describe the situation following the transfer.[20]

In August 2019, Harun-or-Rashid, received a medal from the Bangladesh Police Dhaka range.[21][22]

Harun-or-Rashid claimed Detective Branch unit of Narayanganj District arrested the wife and minor son of Showkat Aziz Russell, son of the founder of Partex Group M. A. Hashem, allegedly recovered drugs, bullets, and liquor from their car in Narayanganj on 2 November 2019.[16][23] His account did not held up at CCTV footage from the residence of Showkat Aziz Russell in Gulshan, Dhaka showed his family members being detained at his residence without informing the Gulshan Police Station per the law.[16][23] On 3 November 2019, Harun-or-Rashid was transferred from the post of superintendent of police of Narayangaj District to Training and Reserve unit at the police headquarters while facing a number of criminal allegations.[18][16] The transfer order was signed by Dhananjay Kumar Das, the deputy secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.[24] Showkat Aziz Russell secured bail from the Bangladesh High Court on 4 November 2019 and alleged Harun-or-Rashid tried to extort money from him.[16] M. A. Hashem claimed Harun-or-Rashid tried to extort 80 million taka from his son Showkat Aziz Russell and filed cases over drugs because of his refusal to pay.[17] Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, minister of Home Affairs who had refused to talk to Harun at a public function,[19] assured the media of an investigation against Harun-or-Rashid in presence of AKM Mozammel Haq, head of the cabinet committee on law and order.[25][26] On 13 November 2019, Harun-or-Rashid and his fellow police officers assaulted the referee of a friendly football match.[27] He was the secretary general of Bangladesh Police Service Association.[27]

Harun-or-Rashid was appointed deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on 14 May 2020.[18]

On 2 May 2021, Harun-or-Rashid was promoted to additional deputy inspector general.[28]

Harun was promoted to deputy inspector general on 13 May 2022 just after 1 year of being promoted to additional DIG.[29] He was appointed chief of the Detective Branch of DMP on 13 July 2022 from additional commissioner of the Detective Branch.[30]

On 31 July 2024, the chief of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), DIG Harun-ur-Rashid was transferred to become additional commissioner (crime and operations) of DMP.[31][32][33] This was done as a result of allegations of police brutality against student activists amid the quota reform movement.[34][2]

On 5 August 2024, senior officials, including Harun, gathered at the Central Command and Control Unit in Dhaka. Police officers across the city were instructed to escalate their use of force, guided by surveillance footage. Harun, confident in quelling the student protests, reportedly urged the deputy commissioner of police in Uttara to disperse demonstrators by firing on them. The deputy commissioner, however, indicated that the large crowd—over 25,000 people—made it impossible to control the situation through force alone.[35]

Despite this, Harun and other senior officials continued to pressure officers to use force as the protesters advanced towards key locations like Banani and the Prime Minister's Office. Orders to open fire were issued, but some officers refused to comply, stating the situation was beyond control. Harun, confident in an impending military intervention, continued to issue orders. However, when the crowd reached the Gonobhaban, Harun reportedly became silent and motionless, witnessing the events unfold on surveillance cameras.[36][better source needed]

Controversies

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After the fall of the Hasina government, many cases were filed against him, including crimes against humanity and murders.[37][38][39]

References

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  1. ^ "DB chief Harun transferred". The Financial Express. 31 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "DB chief Harun transferred". Dhaka Tribune. 31 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Kidnapping of businessman: Former DMP DB chief Harun sued". The Daily Star. 2 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Banks asked to freeze accounts of former DB chief Harun, his wife". The Business Standard. 18 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Case filed against DB Harun, Biplob Kumar for beating up BNP leader Zainul Abdin Farroque in 2011". UNB. 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Case against 15 police officers including former IGP-DB Harun". Barta24. 14 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Don't worry about quota protest coordinators in custody: DB chief to families". The Business Standard. 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Reign of terror: How DB Harun turned extortion into police operation". The Business Standard. 15 October 2024.
  9. ^ "SP Harun withdrawn from N'ganj". The New Nation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  10. ^ "DMP transfers Harun from DB after controversies over dining at office". bdnews24.com. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024.
  11. ^ "The Harun saga". Dhaka Tribune. 1 August 2024.
  12. ^ ডিবি প্রধান হলেন হারুন অর রশীদ. NTV (in Bengali). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Jahan, Nur; Chittagong (1 February 2013). "Awarding police for beating up opposition lawmaker!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Court dismisses attempted murder case against cops". The Daily Star. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Asad president, Harun gen secy of Bangladesh Police Service Assoc". The Daily Star. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "SP Harun 'plotted to frame' Partex founder's son". Bangla Tribune. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Extortion Allegations: N'ganj SP transferred to police HQ". The Daily Star. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "Harun Or Rashid promoted to DB chief". The Business Standard. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b "SP Harun finally returns to DMP". New Age. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "Harun made police SP of N'ganj". The Daily Star. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  21. ^ "SP Harun gets best award in Dhaka Range". Daily Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Former DB chief Harun sued over alleged extortion, assault in Narayanganj". The Business Standard. 2 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b "SP Harun stages drama to trap Gulshan Club president in false cases". Dhaka Tribune. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Narayanganj SP transferred for involvement in 'kidnapping'". The Business Standard. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  25. ^ "SP Harun's matter will be investigated: HM". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Allegations of extortion against SP Harun will be probed: Kamal". Daily Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Video of SP Harun, cops beating referee goes viral". Daily Sun. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  28. ^ "7 SPs promoted to Additional DIG". UNB. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  29. ^ "32 additional DIGs promoted to DIG". New Age. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Harun-ur-Rashid made DB chief". Risingbd.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Harun transferred from DB to DMP's Crime and Operations". United News of Bangladesh. 31 July 2024.
  32. ^ "DB chief Harun transferred to DMP's crime and ops dept". Daily Sun. 31 July 2024.
  33. ^ "Harun transferred from DB". Prothom Alo. 31 July 2024.
  34. ^ "DB chief Harun transferred 'in public interest'". The Business Standard.
  35. ^ Mahmud, Faisal (21 July 2024). "How peaceful Bangladesh quota protests morphed into nationwide unrest". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Where is DB Harun?". The Business Standard. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Farroque files attempted murder case against Harun, Biplob". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 19 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Sheikh Hasina, 23 others sued over student murder". Prothom Alo. 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 15 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Amassing illegal wealth: ACC summons ex-DB chief Harun, 12 family members". The Financial Express. 24 October 2024.
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