The government has dismissed Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner Rifat Rahman Shamim from service after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of prolonged unauthorised absence, disobeying official orders and violating service discipline.
The dismissal order was issued on Monday through a gazette notification signed by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Manzur Morshed Chowdhury.
According to the notification, Rifat, who was serving as a joint commissioner of DMP, was attached to the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range on 13 August, 2024, under a Home Ministry order.
Although he handed over his responsibilities at DMP on 18 August, he did not join his new posting and remained absent without obtaining permission from the competent authority.
The ministry said his continued absence amounted to gross negligence in the discharge of official duties, disobedience of lawful government orders and a breach of departmental discipline.
Under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, these offences constitute punishable acts of “misconduct” and “desertion”.
A departmental case was subsequently initiated against him, and he was served with a show-cause notice seeking an explanation.
However, he failed to submit any written response within the stipulated time.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the authorities appointed an inquiry officer to investigate the matter.
The inquiry concluded that the charges had been substantiated.
Based on the investigation report and relevant records, the authorities later issued a second show-cause notice asking why he should not be dismissed from service or face another major penalty. He again did not respond.
Following a review of the inquiry findings and related documents, the government decided in principle to dismiss him and sought the opinion of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), as required under the rules.
According to the notification, the PSC concurred with the proposed action. After obtaining the President’s approval as the appointing authority, the government imposed the major penalty of dismissal from service, concluding that the allegations of misconduct and desertion had been proven beyond doubt under the relevant provisions of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
