The government on Thursday sent 17 more senior Bangladesh Police officials into compulsory retirement, continuing its ongoing reshuffle of the police administration.
A notification issued by the Police-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs said the officials were retired under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018. The order, signed by Senior Secretary Monzur Morshed Chowdhury, took immediate effect.
Those retired include three deputy inspectors general (DIGs), 12 additional DIGs, one superintendent of police (SP) and one deputy commissioner (DC) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
The three DIGs are Mohammad Abdullahil Bakee of Highway Police, Md Walid Hossain of Bangladesh Police Academy, Sardah, and Sana Shaminur Rahman of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The notification said the officials, who joined the police cadre on 31 May 2001, will receive all retirement benefits in accordance with government rules. It did not specify any reason for the decision, stating only that the order had been issued “in the public interest.”
However, officials at Police Headquarters told TIMES of Bangladesh that allegations against the officers included loyalty to the Awami League, family links with party leaders, involvement in vote rigging during the 2014 and 2018 national elections, suppression of opposition activists and corruption.
Three female officers were also accused of misconduct toward former prime minister Khaleda Zia, including their alleged role in her eviction from the Dhaka Cantonment residence in 2010, according to the officials.
Under the law, the government may compulsorily retire any public servant after completion of 25 years of service without assigning a reason.
With the latest move, a total of 80 senior police officials have been sent into compulsory retirement in four phases since the BNP assumed office.
