Bangladeshi national who had been missing for four years, arrested on suspicion of drug use and trafficking

A Bangladeshi national, who has been missing since 2022, has been arrested on suspicion of drug use and trafficking.

Haneef, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national, was arrested on February 26, 2024. He faces allegations of drug use, possession, and trafficking. The court has ordered him to be remanded in custody for 10 days at a custodial facility.

The Criminal Court order stated that sufficient evidence has been presented to support the allegations against the suspect. This evidence includes an intelligence report and official police statements.

However, Haneef has denied the allegations against him. He also informed the court that he had been subjected to physical abuse, claiming that a stone was placed under his foot before someone stepped on it with a boot. When the presiding judge questioned the Investigating Officer (IO) regarding whether these allegations had been reported, the officer stated in court that Haneef had not shared any such information during the investigation.

The defense counsel stated that during a meeting on February 24, 2026, the defendant shared details of the incident, noting that his foot appeared to be somewhat swollen. The Investigating Officer (IO) has since confirmed that they will look into whether such an incident occurred.

Furthermore, police informed the court that Haneef is currently residing in the Maldives illegally and has been listed as a missing person since 2022.

The police are conducting a further investigation into the matter.