Zillur Rahman

Barisal police yesterday reconstituted its probe committee to ensure transparency in connection with the investigation into the creation of a joint bribe fund involving promotion of 230 cops.

BMP Commissioner Shoibal Kanti Chowdhury said he reformed the committee after information surfaced that Shoyeb Ahmed, chief of the now-defunct committee, knew about the matter two months back.

But Shoyeb, also deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP), did not take any action over the allegation, the commissioner said.

He also failed to submit the probe report within the scheduled time, Shoibal added.

The newly formed five-member committee will be headed by BMP deputy commissioner (traffic) Abu Saleh Md Raihan.

BMP assistant commissioners Shahnaz Parvin, Runa Laila, Asaduzzaman and Apu Sarwar are the other members of the committee that has been tasked to submit its report within three working days.

A total of 230 Barisal police members contributed between Tk 30,000 and Tk 50,000 each and set up a joint fund of around Tk 77 lakh.

The money was to be given to “top officials” to quicken their promotion that has been due since last October.

Of the money, Tk 17 lakh was deposited with a joint account of ASI Anisuzzaman, Nayek Kabir Hossain and driver Bablu at a Dutch-Bangla Bank branch in Barisal.

The three are among the suspended cops.

BMP Deputy Commissioner Zillur Rahman, who was also suspended over his involvement in the creation of the fund, returned Tk 50 lakh on Thursday.

He submitted two cheques of Tk 25 lakh each to the BMP headquarters, the BMP commissioner said.

On June 29, 10 lower-ranked Barisal policemen were suspended over the allegation.