The government has decided to suspend councillor of Dhaka South's ward No 30 Irfan Salim from his post a day after a mobile court sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment for the unlawful possession of liquor and walkie-talkie sets.

While talking to reporters at Secretariat on Tuesday, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam said Irfan will be temporarily suspended on Tuesday as per law. Moreover, his suspension will be permanent having the report of a complete investigation into the matter.

Earlier on Monday, a mobile court led by RAB Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam jailed Irfan Salim for 18 months after illegal guns, ammunition, liquor, walkie-talkies and handcuffs were found during a raid in his residence in Old Dhaka.

The mobile court also jailed Irfan's bodyguard Zahid for six months for carrying walkie-talkie.

Monday's raid came after Irfan Salim, son of lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim, came under fire for attacking Lt Wasif Ahmed Khan of Bangladesh Navy in Dhanmondi area of Dhaka on Sunday night.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also arrested Irfan Salim.

During the raid, RAB recovered foreign liquor, beer, firearm and illegal wireless communication devises including walkie-talkie sets from the residence of Irfan Salim 

What happened on Sunday night?

Navy official Lt Wasif Ahmed Khan along with wife was going to his destination by a motorcycle Sunday evening. As the vehicle of Haji Salim hit the motorbike at Kalabagan intersection area, he stopped the vehicle and confronted its driver and passengers. 

Wasif also disclosed his identity being an officer of Bangladesh Navy.  At one stage, some people came out the vehicle and started beating Lt Wasif and verbally abused his wife as she protested the incident. 

Bystanders and commuters rushed to the spot and captured a video of whole incident by mobile phone. The video went viral on social media.

On Monday morning, victim Wasif filed a case with Dhanmondi police station.

BDST: 1430 HRS, OCT 27, 2020
AP