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The Ministry of Home Affairs has made the initial decision to send Md Golam Saqlain, former additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch (DB) and now an additional superintendent of police, into forced retirement.
Moreover, the ministry has sought the opinion of Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) in this regard.
A ministry letter to the BPSC reads, “Investigation has revealed that Saqlain had an extramarital affair with actress Pori Moni. Saqlain used to go to Pori Moni’s home. When his (Saqlain) wife was not at his official residence, Pori Moni went to his home and spent the night.”
Deputy Secretary Rokeya Parvin Jui from the Discipline-2 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued the recommendation seeking forced retirement of Saqlain on 13 June.
The letter adds that a preliminary decision has been taken to send Saqlain into forced retirement as major punishment for misconduct, as per the government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules-2018.
During his tenure as ADC of DB Gulshan Division, Saqlain met actress Pori Moni and interacted with her. Following this, he started staying overnight at the home of actress Pori Moni. According to the CDR analysis of his phone provided by the LIC branch of the police, he stayed at actress Pori Moni’s residence at various times (day and night) from July 4 to August 4, 2021.
Meanwhile, the forensic report of actress Pori Moni's mobile phone [seized as evidence in the case by the CID] shows that the messages exchanged between him and Pori Moni (from 29 July 2021 to 3 August 2021) on Facebook Messenger under the names Samsunnahar Smriti aka Pori Moni and Golam Saklain Sithil and the WhatsApp conversations (from 11 July 2021 to 4 August 2021) were not of a general acquaintance or professional necessity.
Instead, they were in a romantic relationship.
The issue of his relationship with heroine Pori Moni was widely spread in various online and print media, television and various social media. As a result, it gave rise to various negative reactions and criticisms among the public.
Golam Saqlain, being a responsible police officer, developed an extremely close relationship with the heroine Pori Moni outside of official duties.
Although he is married and the father of one child, his extramarital affair with Pori Moni, celebrating birthday with Pori Moni and spending time in his official residence in the absence of his wife have tarnished the image of the government.
A departmental case was filed against him on the above mentioned charges.
A charge frame and charge sheet for “misconduct” against Golam Saqlain under Rule 3 (kha) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 2018.
The accused officer sought a personal hearing on the charge brought against him. Public Security Division Joint Secretary (Administration) Hayat-Ud-Dowllah Khan was asked to send a report after investigating the departmental case.
The investigation found allegations of “misconduct” against him under Rule 3 (Kha) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, the letter said.
After reviewing the inquiry report and other relevant information, the accused officer was found guilty of “misconduct” under the Government Servants (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules and issued a second show cause notice as to why he should not be “dismissed from service” under penalty of capital punishment.
In response, he sought exemption from liability in the case of “dismissal from service.”
Golam Saqlain’s departmental case investigation report, witness statements, defense written responses of the accused, oral statements and other documents are reviewed in detail.
As the reply to the second show of cause was not considered satisfactory after a comprehensive review, the officer accused of “misconduct” under the Government Servants (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, was dismissed from service as “Major Punishment” under Rule 4, Sub-Rule 3 (kha) of the same Rules.
A preliminary decision has been taken to Saqlain to “force retirement,” mentions the ministry letter.
The Business Post had made multiple attempts to contact both Golam Saqlain and Pori Moni on their phones for comments on the matter, but they did not respond till the filing of this report.
