Guns, liquor found in Haji Selim’s house, son Erfan jailed for a year

Awami League MP Haji Md Selim’s son Erfan Selim, who is also the councillor of Ward 30 under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), has been jailed for a year after illegal guns, ammunition, liquor, walkie-talkies and handcuffs were found during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raid at the MP's Old Dhaka residence.

Erfan was arrested during the raid on Monday, along with his bodyguard Md Zahid. A mobile court led by RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwar Alam sentenced the two to a year’s imprisonment for possession of the alcohol and firearms.

RAB conducted the raid on Haji Selim’s residence in Lalbagh after Lieutenant Wasif Ahmad, an officer of Bangladesh Navy, filed an assault case against Erfan on Sunday night.

In addition to the alcohol and firearms, RAB claims to have found a “torture cell” used by Erfan.

After the raid, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Lt Col Ashique Billah told reporters that an unlicensed firearm, five to six litres of foreign liquor and 10 cans of foreign beer had been seized from Erfan, while a firearm and 400 yaba pills were seized from Zahid.

“About 40 walkie-talkies were seized from the house, including a station. During primary interrogation, the detainees said they were used for business purposes. We came to know from various sources that they were used for extortion,” said Lt Col Ashique Billah.

Three VHF (very high frequency) radio sets were also seized during the raid.

“Both of them have been given one year’s rigorous imprisonment — six months for the walkie-talkies and six months for the alcohol,” he said.

RAB will file two cases, one over the firearms and the other over the alcohol.

RAB started the raid at around 12:30pm on Monday, after the accused had been located.

RAB official's outside of the residence of parliamentarian Haji Salim at Dhaka’s Lalbagh area on Monday, October 26, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Earlier on Sunday night, a video of Lieutenant Wasif Ahmad screaming for justice before the public after being assaulted by Erfan, his bodyguard, driver and a few accomplices went viral on social media.

The attack took place in the Kalabagan bus stop area at around 7:45pm on Sunday, when the military officer protested after his motorcycle was hit by Erfan’s car, which had a parliament sticker.  

Later, a case was filed with Dhanmondi police station accusing four people – Erfan Selim, AB Siddique Dipu, Mohammad Zahid and driver Mizanur Rahman – over the incident.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Monday placed Erfan’s driver Mizanur Rahman, who was arrested soon after the incident, on one-day remand in connection with the case. 

After the hearing, Mizanur told reporters: “I did not beat him, rather the security guard beat  him.”

Dhaka Tribune tried repeatedly to reach the navy officer, but his phone was found switched off.

At the same time, despite repeated attempts, Haji Selim could not be contacted over the phone for his comments.

Later on Monday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said nobody would be spared if they were involved in criminal activities, regardless of their identity.