Bangladesh: Senior police officer Harunor Rashid has long been a topic of discussion. Wherever he served, his actions drew attention. Most recently, as the chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch, he became embroiled in controversy over his so-called “Bhaater Hotel.” This issue also surfaced amid the ongoing quota reform movement and he was eventually transferred on Wednesday. Criticism began when six coordinators of the movement were detained at the DB office on the pretext of being given safety.
The High Court expressed its dismay over this incident. Harun’s actions were even criticized during a closed-door meeting between the prime minister and the 14-party alliance. Ultimately, Harun was removed as the DB chief and reassigned to the Crime and Operations Unit of the DMP. Hailing from Kishoreganj, Harun, a police officer from the 20th batch of BCS, first garnered attention while serving as additional deputy commissioner in the Tejgaon Division of the DMP.
In 2011, he faced allegations of assaulting the then-opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farroque near the parliament building, sparking widespread criticism. Promoted to superintendent of police, Harun served in Gazipur and Narayanganj, where he again became a topic of discussion. In 2016, the Election Commission ordered his withdrawal from Gazipur two days before the union parishad elections. However, the home ministry later reinstated him.
In Narayanganj, a conflict with Partex Group chairman MA Hashem’s son, Amber Group Chairman Showkat Aziz Russell, led to the seizure of Russell’s car and the detention of his driver, and later his wife and children. Harun claimed to have found yaba tablets, alcohol and bullets in the car, but CCTV footage from Russell's house showing the detentions led to his transfer to the police headquarters' training and reserve force in November 2019.
In 2021, Harun was promoted to additional deputy inspector general and served as joint commissioner of DB North and the cybercrime division. Within a year, he was promoted to DIG and later appointed additional commissioner of the DB, where the "Bhaater Hotel" controversy would begin. Harun's detention of Ahsraful Alom or Hero Alom for allegedly distorting Rabindra Sangeet also drew criticism, with the incident receiving coverage in foreign media. Senior police officers were reportedly embarrassed by his actions.
The "Bhaater Hotel" name gained notoriety when Harun invited BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy for a meal after he was allegedly assaulted by police on the street. He would invite celebrities who came to him with complaints for a meal and then publicize it himself. Even TikTokers and vloggers were often seen making vlogs about him in his office. Because of these actions, Harun's "Bhaater Hotel" became widely known across the country.
His actions, widely publicized on social media, caused discomfort among senior officials, but no one ever dared to voice their opinions due to Harun's influence. According to a DB source, Harun was involved in the removal of the officer who had solved the high-profile murder case of MP Anwarul Azim Anar. Harun allegedly disfavoured officers who did not regularly report to him.
Harun reportedly ordered the detention of the six student movement coordinators to curry favour with the government, keeping them in DB custody on the pretext of providing security, not presenting them in court within 24 hours as required by law. He publicized a lunch photo with them on social media, fuelling criticism.
During a hearing, the High Court remarked: “Do not mock the nation. Whomever you detain, you seat them at the dining table.” Afterwards, 14-party alliance leaders also complained to the prime minister that Harun's actions were tarnishing the government’s image. Senior police officers declined to comment on the transfer. However, a source, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the removal had been ordered at the prime minister’s directive.