A fresh wave of reshuffles has swept through the Bangladesh Police, but beneath the routine language of administration, a deeper pattern is re-emerging, shaped by political signalling, loyalty tests and institutional uncertainty.
For years, one acronym has defined fear within the force: OSD – Officer on Special Duty.
OSDs are retained on the payroll but removed from active, assigned responsibilities. In practice, this has often meant professional exile. Officers are stripped of command, pushed out of meaningful roles and left in limbo, waiting for the next political shift to decide their fate.
The latest move on 3 May, which sent 17 senior officers — 16 deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and one additional DIG — into forced retirement, has once again turned the spotlight on this practice. Even on Tuesday, 39 more officers, including several DIGs and Superintendents of Police, were transferred.
The result is a once-formidable force hollowed out from within — demoralised, politicised and dysfunctional. When the police serve the government of the day instead of the Constitution, ordinary citizens pay the heaviest price.
During the previous Awami League administration, there were allegations of partisan influence and biased recruitment, which continue to shadow the force. At the same time, rumours persist of promotions driven by Chhatra Dal affiliations. Amid this environment, lobbying for preferred postings remains active within both the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters.
Taking advantage of the situation, some individuals within the force are racing to secure personal gains while presenting themselves as “bona fide” BNP supporters.
Following the fall of the Awami League government in the August 2024 mass uprising, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration carried out sweeping changes. The process has continued after the Tarique Rahman-led government took office through the 12 February general election.
A total of 335 officers who were either terminated or sent into forced retirement during the Awami League regime have been reinstated, while 557 promotions have been awarded across ranks since the August 2024 political changeover.
Many of those reinstated had been out of service for up to 15 years, and their return to key positions has triggered resentment among rank-and-file officers.
Since 2024, 76 officers have been sent into forced retirement by the interim government and 30 by the current BNP government, many of them previously serving as OSDs from the 15th, 17th and 18th BCS batches.
Among serving officers, particularly those from the 20th batch nearing the 25-year service threshold, anxiety is growing as fresh retirement lists circulate.
A force shaped by politics
Critics argue that this is not a new phenomenon but a continuation of a long-standing trend. Successive governments have been accused of treating the police as an instrument of political control rather than an independent law enforcement body.
Preferred officers have often been fast-tracked and rewarded with key postings, while those seen as neutral or inconvenient have been sidelined or removed. The cumulative effect, observers say, is a force increasingly shaped by allegiance rather than professionalism.
That erosion is now showing consequences. Even as promotions continue, incidents of murder, extortion and robbery have risen across the country, including in the capital. Police operations on the ground have yet to regain full momentum, reflecting pressure on both morale and discipline.
Govt’s position
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed rejected suggestions that the reshuffle has any link to the law and order.
“Appointments, transfers, promotions or disciplinary actions are part of routine administrative work. There is no fixed timeline; it is an ongoing process,” he said.
On whether posts are being cleared to facilitate promotions, he noted that new positions can be created, if necessary, subject to approval from the finance and public administration ministries.
He also dismissed concerns over recent retirements, saying they are internal matters handled with due scrutiny. “We have ensured that no injustice is done,” he said.
Concerns from former officials
Former officials, however, paint a more cautious picture.
Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar warned that politically driven promotions and transfers undermine professionalism. “Merit must come first. If the police are managed this way, they cannot stand as a credible force,” he said.
Former inspector general of police Muhammad Nurul Huda echoed the concern, saying large-scale retirements send a troubling signal within a disciplined service.
“It affects morale. Officers begin to think their future depends on political alignment. That reflects a deeper institutional problem,” he said, adding that those affected can seek legal remedy.
Allegations behind the ‘purge’
According to intelligence inputs, many of those forced into retirement were allegedly linked to the previous Awami League government, accused of using excessive force during student-led protests or involvement in anti-government activities and information leaks while on OSD or attached postings.
Return, removal and rapid promotions
The reshuffle has unfolded on multiple fronts.
Mass transfers
On Tuesday, 39 officers, including several DIGs, were transferred, while new Superintendents of Police were appointed in 12 districts. The reshuffle also includes changes involving a metropolitan commissioner, a range DIG and an additional DIG. Two separate notifications were issued by the home ministry.
Reinstatements
Five senior officers earlier retired in the “public interest” were reinstated on 27 August 2024. Among them, Md Ali Hossain Fakir later rose to become Additional IGP and now serves as IGP.
On 18 November, former Additional IGP Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali, later appointed DMP Commissioner, and another officer were also reinstated.
At the lower ranks, 330 sergeants and sub-inspectors whose recruitment had been stalled since 2006 have been brought back. Of them, 184 began training at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sarada in April 2026, marking the revival of a two-decade-old process.
Forced retirements
The list of those sent into compulsory retirement continues to grow. It includes senior figures such as former CID chief Mohammad Ali Mia, former SB chief Monirul Islam, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, and several Additional IGPs and DIGs.
The latest move on 3 May saw 17 senior officers — 16 DIGs and one Additional DIG — retired. Earlier, 13 DIGs were removed on 22 April, and five Additional IGPs on 9 March.
Promotions
Promotions have also been extensive. A total of 73 officers were elevated to the rank of DIG on 18 August 2024, followed by another 33 on 26 November 2025.
In addition, 49 officers were promoted from Additional Superintendent of Police (Additional SP) to Superintendent of Police (SP) in two phases. At the entry officer level, 163 Assistant Superintendents of Police were promoted to Additional SP. Meanwhile, 273 officers from Sub-Inspector and Sergeant ranks were promoted to Inspectors.
At the top tier, 12 acting Additional Inspectors General of Police were confirmed in their posts. A number of officers also received “supernumerary” promotions, allowing them to hold higher ranks while continuing in their existing positions.
A fragile recovery
In the immediate aftermath of 5 August, a large number of police personnel remained absent from duty, facing public anger over their role during the Awami League government. Most returned by 8 August following a call from the new IGP. However, as of 17 September 2024, 187 members were still absent, reflecting lingering uncertainty within the ranks.
The bigger picture
Taken together, these developments point to a force in transition — but also in tension.
Frequent reshuffles, mass retirements and rapid promotions may reshape the hierarchy, but they also raise a fundamental question: can the police function as a neutral institution, or will it remain tied to the political winds of the day?
For now, the answer lies not in policy statements, but in how the next round of postings, promotions and retirements unfolds.
