Ex-minister Golam Dastagir’s house vandalized and looted by men claiming to be DB members

Unidentified men looted and vandalized the residence of former Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi in the capital Siddheshwari yesterday after breaking into the building on Saturday evening (October 26) claiming to be members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Department.

According to building security guards and locals, about 15 to 20 men went there in three microbuses, introduced themselves as DB members and demanded entry into the house. When the guards refused to comply with their demands, they broke the lock of the gate and entered the house. Some men wore DB jackets, while two men wore police uniforms.

They first broke the CCTV cameras and later destroyed the furniture of the four rooms of the house, the guards said. After about two and a half hours they left.

They also took several items, some eyewitnesses said.

When informed about the matter, an official of the Gazi group went to Ramna police station fearing that robbers had attacked the house.

“I was told that a DB team raided the house,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

When contacted about the issue, Ramna OC Golam Faruk told The Business Standard that a DB team had indeed raided the house without providing any details about the operation.

Contrary to OC Faruk’s statement, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Md. However, Talebur Rahman later in the day said that no such operation was carried out by the DB team in the house.

Additional commissioner of DB Rezaul Karim Mallik could not be reached by telephone for comment in this regard. He also did not respond to text messages.

Golam Dastagir Gazi, arrested after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, is currently in jail. His wife is in hiding and their two sons are abroad, one of whom is on a livelihood in India, according to family sources.

Police sources stated that the DB officers went to the house to arrest Golam Dastagir Gazi’s wife, Hasina Gazi, although she was not found.

A Gazi Group official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the family initially suspected the incident was a robbery. They immediately contacted the Ramna police station where they were informed that the Criminal Investigation Department (DB) was conducting an operation at the house.