DHAKA: An army Major has been given his marching orders from the force to serve in jail for a year for smuggling contraband drug phensidyl.

“...(the) officer has been tried by Court Martial in Army for other offences where he is dismissed from the service with one-year rigorous imprisonment in civil jail,” an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) department release said Tuesday.

The release said army officer Major Reza Shah Md. Jillulah was detained by police on the western side of Bangabandhu Bridge, Sirajgang, on 15 July 2010.

Police filed a case against him under the Special Powers Act-1974.

“Major Reza was engaged in hated activities like Phensedyl transportation for earning extra income, violating service regulation for his own purpose,” it said.

He was a BSc-holder in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and was commissioned in Army in 1995.

“Any kind of offence or illegal activities by army members is not tolerated in the Army,” the release said, adding: “Proper punishment is awarded according to Bangladesh Army rules if allegation of crime against any army personnel be proved.”  

BDST 2200 HRS, AUGUST 31, 2010.