In an era when stories of mistrust often overshadow acts of integrity, a police sergeant in Lalmonirhat has become a symbol of honesty after returning Tk 44,000, which he found lying abandoned on a road, to its rightful owner.

The incident unfolded on Sunday (21 September) at Medical Mor in Hatibandha upazila. On routine duty, Sergeant Sohag Chowdhury noticed a suspicious bundle lying on the roadside.

I noticed a bundle of cash lying on the road while on duty at Medical Mor, just like any other day, Sergeant Chowdhury recalled. 

In the presence of pedestrians, I picked it up and counted it. It amounted to Tk 44,000. I then informed nearby shopkeepers and passers-by and decided to wait for the owner, he said. 

Word of the discovery spread quickly. 

Before long, Abdul Hakim, a local businessman, approached Hatibandha Police Station claiming he had lost the money.

Hakim explained that the loss occurred after he withdrew a large sum of cash to deposit in another bank. 

I went out with Tk 94,000 from home. After withdrawing another Tk 100,000 from Jamuna Bank, I had a total of Tk 194,000 to deposit in Islami Bank, he said. 

Somewhere on the way, Tk 44,000 fell out of my cloth bag. I searched for it in many places but could not find it. Later, I came to know that Sergeant Sohag Chowdhury had found the money. After giving him the proper details, he returned the amount through Hatibandha Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC), Hakim said. 

Hakim’s relief was matched by gratitude. “It is rare to find a good person like Sohag bhai,” he remarked. “He is a truly humane police officer, and his integrity speaks for itself.”

OC Mahamudun Nabi confirmed that proper procedure had been followed. 

Police have always been committed to ensuring the security of people and their belongings. Sergeant Sohag’s honesty has proved this once again. After proper verification, the Tk 44,000 was handed over to the rightful owner, Abdul Hakim, he said.