Govt suspends Erfan Selim as DSCC councillor

All named accused now behind bars

FE Team | Published: October 27, 2020 23:41:45

The government has suspended MP Haji Mohammad Selim's son Erfan Selim as the councillor of Ward No. 30 under Dhaka South City Corporation after his jailing for the illegal possession of walkie-talkies and liquor, report agencies.
The Local Government Division issued the suspension order on Tuesday after a mobile court of the Rapid Action Battalion sentenced Erfan and his bodyguard to one year in prison on Monday.
The RAB raided the MP's home after a naval officer, Lt Md Wasif Ahmed Khan, accused Erfan and his men of beating Wasif and his wife following a collision between Wasif's motorcycle and a car.
All the accused in the case over the assault are behind bars.
Erfan won the councillor's post as an independent candidate in February.
Earlier on Tuesday, Local Government Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said they were waiting for a report from the city corporation to decide the fate of Erfan.
Local Government Minister Md Tazul Islam said Erfan would be removed permanently from the councillor's post after investigation.
According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, if any public representative is sentenced, he or she will be discharged from duties.
Citing the allegations against Erfan and his punishment, the Local Government Division said he was suspended for moral turpitude and misconduct.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Tuesday placed AB Siddique, another associate of Irfan Selim, on a three-day remand in a case filed over assaulting an official of Bangladesh Navy.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sattyabroto Shikdar passed the order when Inspector Ashfaq Rajib Hasan, also the investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.
Besides, the court also rejected the bail petition of Siddique.
Meanwhile, the court fixed Wednesday for hearing a petition filed by police to interrogate Haji Selim's son Irfan and his bodyguard Zahid in custody.
Detectives arrested Siddique, 45, from Tangail early Tuesday, said Walid Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
With his arrest, all the named accused in the case, including Irfan, are now behind bars.
The other arrestees are Md Zahid and driver Mizanur Rahman. Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan of Bangladesh Navy filed the case at Dhanmondi Police Station naming four people and several unnamed others.
According to the case statement, a private car hit Lt Wasif's bike near Labaid Hospital at Dhanmondi around 7:45pm when he and his wife were returning to their Mohammadpur residence from Nilkhet.