DIG faces inquiry over obscene messages to junior colleague

The home ministry has launched a departmental inquiry against Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Abu Sufian over allegations of sending an obscene video clip and disturbing messages to a junior female colleague through his Facebook Messenger.

Signed by the ministry's senior secretary, a show-cause notice was issued to the DIG on November 24, asking him to submit a written explanation in 10 working days as to why he should not be dismissed from service and handed down a penalty for the alleged misconduct. It added that he could provide his answer within the stipulated time or opt for a personal hearing for self-defence.

Contacted by The Daily Star yesterday, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam confirmed that the allegations were currently being investigated by the home ministry.

Following the initiation of the inquiry, Sufian was transferred from his post as commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police to the Police Headquarters.

According to the show-cause, Sufian used his official social media account to send objectionable messages to the victim, a female additional superintendent of police from the 35th batch.

On September 18, he allegedly sent an obscene video clip as well.

Though the DIG allegedly deleted the content from his Messenger, the evidence provided has been validated in a forensic report conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department.

The notice further stated that by sending such a video to a junior female colleague while holding an important post, "DIG Abu Sufian demonstrated extreme unprofessionalism".

His conduct was deemed unbecoming of an officer and devoid of morality and has severely tarnished the image of the police force, it added.

The ministry further stressed that such behaviour is considered a punishable offence under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Responding to the allegations, Sufian told The Daily Star that he received the show-cause notice yesterday.

He claimed he was "a victim of fraud", saying that he was sent this video from another ID. "I then forwarded it to her [the female officer] asking why it was sent."

However, the female officer yesterday told journalists that she was frequently sent such messages, images, and video content on several occasions. She added that only when the situation became "completely unacceptable" did she inform the authorities through established departmental rules.