Monowarul Hasan Russell, also known as “Chit Russell,” allegedly visited Godagari police station in Rajshahi despite being sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour and remaining at large. A Chattogram court sentenced him on February 23 in a drug case filed by Kotwali police in 2019, also imposing a Tk10,000 fine. He was absent when the verdict was delivered, and the court issued an arrest warrant.

Sources said Russell went to Godagari police station on July 19 and spoke with Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman about progress in a theft case involving his home. On the same day, he submitted bail papers in a pending case at Paltan police station in Dhaka. No bail papers related to the Chattogram conviction had reached the station, yet he was not arrested, according to the report.

OC Atikur Rahman said he could not recall the matter. Sub-Inspector Nazmul Islam said he handles warrants in pending cases and that the conviction warrant was handled by another officer. Local civic committee president Salahuddin Biswas alleged influential drug traders can prevent warrants from being enforced and called for an inquiry into Russell’s assets and legal action.