Arrest Warrants Issued Against Nearly 700 Police Witnesses in Chattogram

Arrest warrants have been issued against nearly 700 serving and transferred police personnel for failing to appear as witnesses in cases pending before different courts in Chattogram. Police, however, say the officers and members are not accused in those cases and that the court orders were issued to ensure their attendance as witnesses.

The information was found through court-related sources and official letters issued by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP). Although several summonses and warrants had previously been issued, many of the police witnesses failed to appear, delaying the recording of testimony in a number of long-pending cases.

On October 3, the CMP Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters) office sent 18 separate letters to various police units across the country. The letters instructed the concerned personnel to ensure their presence in court at 9am on the scheduled dates. The documents noted that summonses, arrest warrants and, in some cases, non-bailable warrants had previously been issued against the witnesses.

The police witnesses include personnel ranging from constables to officers of different ranks. Some are currently posted in Chattogram, while others are serving in Brahmanbaria, Cox’s Bazar, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Sylhet, Chandpur, Sunamganj, Mymensingh and Dhaka. Some are also posted with specialised units including CID, PBI, Naval Police, Highway Police and Special Branch.

The cases involve several police stations in Chattogram, including Patenga, Kotwali, Khulshi, Sadarghat, Halishahar, Chawkbazar, Karnaphuli, Double Mooring, Bayezid, Chandgaon, Akbar Shah, Bakalia, Panchlaish, Pahartali and EPZ. The cases are pending before various courts, including the Metropolitan Sessions Court, Additional Metropolitan Sessions Courts, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and several special tribunals.

Witness Absence Delays Murder Trial
The absence of police witnesses has also affected proceedings in serious criminal cases. On September 16, an Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court in Chattogram directed the police commissioner to take necessary steps in connection with a murder case filed in 2022.

According to the court order, despite repeated processes being issued to bring the complainant and other witnesses before the court after charges were framed, the prosecution failed to produce them. The police commissioner was instructed to take steps to ensure the witnesses appear in court on November 18.

Transfers Create Additional Complications
Court officials say transfers of investigating officers and other police personnel who were on duty when an incident occurred often create complications in securing testimony.

Summonses may initially reach a witness’s former workplace and then have to pass through reserve offices, the CMP headquarters and the relevant unit before reaching the officer’s new posting. In some cases, personnel reportedly face difficulties obtaining the necessary clearance to attend court on the scheduled date.

CMP Assistant Commissioner (Media) Aminur Rashid said the police personnel concerned are not accused in the cases. Rather, they have been summoned to provide testimony. He said some witnesses cannot attend because they have been transferred to distant locations, are ill, did not receive the summons properly, or in some cases have died.

Chattogram District Public Prosecutor Abdur Razzaq said witnesses may fail to appear for several reasons, including improper service of summons or retirement. He stressed that prolonged witness absence contributes to the growing backlog of cases and that proper arrangements should be made to ensure witnesses can attend court.

Advocate Aktar Kabir Chowdhury, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujon), Chattogram, described the absence of police witnesses as a serious obstacle to the judicial process. He said administrative complications should be resolved through coordination within the police department and accountability should be ensured when witnesses repeatedly fail to appear despite court orders.