[12] Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner of the Lalbagh Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, assaulted Zainul Abedin Farroque, Bangladesh Nationalist Party's member of parliament and chief opposition whip, during an anti-government protest.

B. M. Ashraf Uddin, member of parliament, filed attempted murder case of Zainul Abedin Farroque against 25 police officers including Harun-or-Rashid and ASP Biplob Kumar Sarker.

[16] Showkat Aziz Russell sent letters to various branches of the government and trade bodies seeking protection from Harun-or-Rashid, then superintendent of police of Gazipur District.

[21][22] Harun-or-Rashid claimed Detective Branch unit of Narayanganj District arrested the wife and minor son of Showkat Aziz Russell, son of the founder of Partex Group M. A. Hashem, allegedly recovered drugs, bullets, and liquor from their car in Narayanganj on 2 November 2019.

[24] Showkat Aziz Russell secured bail from the Bangladesh High Court on 4 November 2019 and alleged Harun-or-Rashid tried to extort money from him.

[16] M. A. Hashem claimed Harun-or-Rashid tried to extort 80 million taka from his son Showkat Aziz Russell and filed cases over drugs because of his refusal to pay.

[17] Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, minister of Home Affairs who had refused to talk to Harun at a public function,[19] assured the media of an investigation against Harun-or-Rashid in presence of AKM Mozammel Haq, head of the cabinet committee on law and order.

Harun, confident in quelling the student protests, reportedly urged the deputy commissioner of police in Uttara to disperse demonstrators by firing on them.

However, when the crowd reached the Gonobhaban, Harun reportedly became silent and motionless, witnessing the events unfold on surveillance cameras.