Four police officers from Hatibandha police station in Lalmonirhat have been withdrawn over allegations that they suppressed a large drug consignment and a private car in exchange for Tk10 lakh during a drug recovery operation. Hatibandha Officer-in-Charge Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar confirmed the action on Friday. The officers named were sub-inspectors Tuhin and Rimon Mia, and assistant sub-inspectors Abdul Hakim and Lutfar Rahman.

According to police and local residents, the four officers raided the home of a known drug dealer in the Boarder Hat Bazar area on the afternoon of July 17. They allegedly seized a white private car, a motorcycle and a large quantity of drugs during the operation. The seized items, however, were not taken to the police station.

Instead, the evidence was taken to the premises of Velaguri Union Parishad, where the officers allegedly held a meeting and released the drug consignment for Tk10 lakh. The matter later became known through CCTV footage from the meeting location. OC Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar said the four officers were attached to the police lines after preliminary verification of the allegations.