The founder of E-Commerce Innovators of Bangladesh, Mohammad Rakib Hasan, was detained by the Gazipur Pubail Detective Branch (DB) Police on his way back from a family day event at Aranyobas, Pubail. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when Rakib was taken from the picnic bus and placed into a white microbus (Dhaka Metro Cha 195121). While being detained, Rakib showed a picture of himself with former e-CAB president Shomi Kaiser as proof of his identity. Rakib was previously the president of the Standing Committee’s Youth Forum.
According to sources, as Rakib was being taken away, other entrepreneurs present at the scene attempted to block the microbus and demanded an explanation from the plainclothes officers. However, the DB police refused to disclose any reasons for the detention. The entrepreneurs insisted that if Rakib was to be taken to the police station, they should all be allowed to accompany him. The officers instructed them to meet the Gazipur North Commissioner and then additional DB members entered the vehicle before it drove off. The picnic bus followed the microbus to the Pubail police station, where more than 50 e-commerce entrepreneurs had gathered outside at the time of reporting.
When contacted, Pubail police duty officer Aminul Islam stated, “I do not know the reason for his detention. The DB police brought him to Pubail police station. I am currently outside.”
Meanwhile, DB Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahin Khan told DigiBangla, “He is being questioned based on allegations against him.” However, he refused to disclose the nature of the allegations, stating, “We are verifying the facts. Within an hour, we will confirm whether he is being detained or formally arrested. If no valid charges are found, he will be released within an hour.”
An unverified source claims that Rakib’s name appears in ‘Operation Devil Hunt’. However, a review of his Facebook activity reveals that he was actively involved in the July Movement in support of anti-discrimination student protests.
