DGHS driver arrested on charges of dealing arms, fake currencies

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested a driver of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for his alleged involvement in dealing illegal firearms and fake currencies. 

Abdul Malek, 63, was apprehended in Kamarpara under Turag police station in Dhaka early Sunday, said RAB 1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Shafi Ullah Bulbul.

The battalion personnel also recovered a foreign made pistol, a magazine, five bullets, and counterfeit notes worth Tk1.50 lakh from his possession, he said.

A third class employee, Malek accumulated wealth worth crores of taka by resorting to illegal means, RAB said.

According to the primary investigation of the elite police unit, Malek was allegedly involved in dealing illegal firearms and counterfeit currencies, extortion and other criminal activities in the Turag area. 

During interrogation, Malek confessed that he extorted a huge amount of money from common people by intimidating them with firearms, RAB said.

With an educational qualification of class eight, Malek first joined the Savar Health Project as a driver in 1982. In 1986, he started working as a driver at the transport pool of DGHS. 

A RAB official said there are two seven-storey buildings in the name of Malek's first wife Nargis Akter in South Kamarpara. He has also a 10 to 12 katha plot adjacent to the buildings.

There is a dairy firm on a 15 katha plot at South Kamarpara in the name of his eldest daughter. 

Besides, Malek has also an under construction 10-storey building on four katha of land in Hatirpool area.

He also has a huge amount of money deposited in different banks, the official added.