Because he did not care a friend of BNP bigwig

The motorcycle was released within three hours following a telephone call from a BNP bigwig in the city, sources said.

The traffic sergeant with "good 21 years' service record", spent a sleepless night at the police lines as he was also verbally threatened with suspension, the sources said.

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The sergeant served in the UN missions abroad twice and won the United Nations Medal in 1996 and 2002.

Ordered by his superiors, Traffic Sergeant Shaheen Iqbal of Boalia police station in the city went to Gourhanga crossing at around 5pm on Wednesday to check vehicles.

Iqbal caught one Shahidul Islam for driving a motor cycle without any driving license, registration and number-plate.

Islam made a mobile phone call. His friend Shafiqur Rahman, a BNP leader in the city's Kajla area, came immediately.

Rahman charged Iqbal why he stopped Shahidul's motorcycle.

As Iqbal declined to talk to him, Rahman called a BNP bigwig over cell phone and left the place threatening him of 'dire consequences'.

Iqbal acted as per law. He officially submitted the motorcycle to Boalia police station.

About three hours later, Islam and Rahman came to the police station and took away the motorcycle.

In the meantime, Iqbal was verbally ordered to be 'closed'.

Iqbal joined the police lines Thursday morning following a "command certificate" signed by Traffic Inspector Gazi Zahedur Rahman.

Two hours later, he was however ordered to join Boalia police station.

When contacted, an official at Boalia police station said that the motorcycle was released after its owner gave an undertaking to show proper documents within three days.

Talking to The Daily Star, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Anisur Rahman denied that Iqbal was 'closed'.

Asked about release of the motorcycle, RMP Deputy Commissioner Mazharul Islam said he was not aware of the incident.