Growing discontent has spread among a large number of police officers over poorly managed promotions and postings following the July uprising, disrupting the functioning of both the police department and overall policing.
Senior officers fear that if the issues are not resolved soon, the dissatisfaction may deepen further, worsening the already fragile law and order situation ahead of the national election expected in mid-February.
“Some officers believed to have been deprived under the ousted Awami League government were suddenly promoted to higher ranks, jumping two or three tiers. Meanwhile, there had been many others who were supposed to get promotion sidelined by the current administration,” said a senior officer, requesting anonymity.
He added that a similar situation prevails in postings, where many inexperienced officers have been given important positions while capable ones were overlooked. “Most of the newly promoted and posted officers lack adequate knowledge about their routine duties and policing,” he said.
Multiple sources within the police department told TIMES of Bangladesh that the force is no longer functioning as a cohesive unit, as a fierce race has emerged among officers for promotions and lucrative postings.
“The competition is intense among politically motivated officers. They identify themselves as either BNP or Jamaat men,” said an officer posted at the Police Headquarters.
He noted that BNP loyalists dominated top positions after the fall of Hasina. “However, when the current IGP took charge, he wanted to end domination by any particular group. He introduced changes to restore balance,” he said.
“But this strategy, coming from an officer who retired nearly a decade ago and has now returned to lead the force, has its own challenges. He appears to be politically neutral, and that itself has become a problem — neither the politically inclined, the opportunists, nor the deprived align with him,” the officer added.
He further said that police functioning is being disrupted both at the headquarters and in the field because of the existing situation in the department.
Split among inspectors
Meanwhile, several hundred police inspectors have expressed sheer frustration over not being posted as OCs of police stations across the country, while many have also been denied promotions for years, leading to deep resentment within the force.
Many inspectors are now serving as OCs in police stations, while others have yet to receive any posting.
After the political changeover in August 2024, some who previously held OC positions, regained same posts in Dhaka, depriving many inspectors of promotion.
The row over transfers and promotions has split Bangladesh Police Association (BPA) into two factions, leaving the Police Headquarters in an awkward situation following the allegations and counter-allegations against each other.
According to sources, around 300 police inspectors have yet to get OC postings despite being promoted more than a decade ago. They have alleged that despite repeated appeals to senior officials, their requests are going unheeded.
They also said the unwritten rule under the previous government that barred inspectors aged 54 or above from becoming OCs was initially revoked after the political transition, but has reportedly been reinstated, causing discrimination among many inspectors.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam told TIMES that there is “no scope for creating disorder within the force. There are about 8,000 inspectors and 639 OCs, but everyone cannot become an OC.
“Posting depends on merit and performance. Those who proved their capability earlier are now in charge of OCs. This is not the time for experiments. With the national election approaching, my priority is control, not reshuffling.”
On the internal rift in the BPA, the police chief said, “The association’s activities are personal, not official. I have nothing to do with their internal matters.”
BPA President and Inspector of Police Mozammel Haque leads a BPA faction. He said that the discontent over transfer and promotion has grown, creating division in the force.
“Some inspectors have been waiting 16 years for an OC posting, and many are not getting promoted either. Even the new uniform design has drawn criticism. Many are losing morale and considering resignation,” he said.
Inspector Kamrul Islam Jewel, president of another BPA faction, defended the current posting policy, saying, “The DMP commissioner is assigning OCs after careful review. Those involved in the last controversial election duties are not getting new postings. There are no partisan postings – those who are denied promotion were involved in wrongdoings.”
DMP postings at a glance
As OC, Mohammad Ayub joined Kadamtali Police Station in Dhaka on 21 January 2025 after serving in Cumilla’s Lalmai and Nangalkot police stations. Mahmudur Rahman joined as OC in Demra of Dhaka on 12 December 2024, having previously served in Chuadanga’s Jibannagar and Bhola’s Lalmohan stations.
Kamruzzaman took charge as OC of Jatrabari Police Station on 29 January 2025 after serving in Cumilla’s Bangura Bazar, Muradnagar, and Chattogram’s Banshkhali police stations.
Aminul Islam joined Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar Police Station as OC on 30 August 2024, earlier worked in DMP’s Detective Branch during the previous government.
Other OCs include Rahim Mollah (Uttara West), Golam Mostafa (Uttara East), Abdur Rouf (Wari), Hafizur Rahman (Gulshan), Rafik Ahmed (Mohammadpur), Sajjad Roman (Mirpur), Aslam Hossain (Shah Ali), Monirul Islam (Turag), SM Zakaria (Adabor), and Yasin (Sabujbagh).
Several of them previously held postings in different districts, including Khulna, Satkhira, Sirajganj, Munshiganj, and Chapainawabganj.
The growing frustration among police inspectors, coupled with the BPA internal division, has reportedly drawn the attention of senior officials at the Police Headquarters, who fear the situation could affect internal discipline and morale of the force.
