No vacancy puts 230 SP's posting in limbo

The appointment of 230 superintendents of police (SPs), who were promoted from the position of additional SPs in November 2018, is still in limbo as there are not enough empty posts for them in the department.

Police headquarters sent a proposal to the home ministry on September 19 suggesting the abolition of 230 posts of additional superintendents of police in order to create new posts for in-situ officials. However, the ministry is yet to respond.

An in-situ official is someone who continues to perform the same duties holding the same office despite being promoted to a higher position.

The proposal sent by police headquarters noted that the creation of new posts will cost Tk2.5 crore per month.

Officials concerned said many among the administration cadre of the 25th BCS who have been promoted as deputy secretaries have already joined their new offices. But no police official from that batch has been able to join with the post of SP.

The proposal made it clear that if the stagnation is not rolled back soon, the promoted officials will be disheartened, which will impact negatively on the department.

The situation has also had a negative impact on junior officials in line for promotion as opportunities for them will be difficult to be realised.

The proposal sent to the ministry said that 130 posts of SP will become vacant within 2025 as many officials holding that position will retire or will come by promotions by then. But the number is not enough for the appointment of in-situ officials. Therefore, it will not be possible to provide them with new offices without creating new posts.

As the supernumerary SPs are already having the salaries and other benefits as per their promotion, creating new posts will not need a large-scale economic adjustment from the government, the proposal mentioned.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has noted that considering the economic adjustment of the government, 230 new posts of SP can be created at various police units where scope exists for such posts. In his view, it will be the easiest solution to the issue.

The minister did not mention when the ministry will provide the answer to the police headquarters' proposal.

Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general of police headquarters, said, "In abolishing 230 additional police superintendents' posts and creating 230, there will not be any administrative problems. Creating the posts does not involve extra costs."

"Our proposal is being sincerely considered by the ministry and a meeting in this regard will be held soon," he added.

Earlier, in 2018, the authorities created 253 posts of additional SP after scrapping a similar number of posts of senior deputy police super.

Creating new posts in different police units

The proposal from the police headquarters said 22 of existing 107 posts of additional SPs can be abolished in order to create 20 posts of SP.

In the Special Branch of police, 10 of the existing 44 posts of additional SPs can be abolished. Meanwhile, there is scope for 18 posts of SP.

The proposal recommended scrapping 12 posts of additional SP by creating 30 posts of SPs in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

At the Bangladesh Police Academy two posts of SP can be created with the scrapping of four posts of additional SP, according to the proposal.

The authorities have proposed creating 39 posts of SP in the Police Bureau of Investigation, 15 posts in Dhaka Metropolitan Police, three in Police Staff College, four in Police T&IM Headquarters, two in Railway Police, five in Chattogram Metropolitan Police, two in Khulna Metropolitan Police, four in Barishal Metropolitan Police, four in Sylhet Metropolitan Police, six in Gazipur Metropolitan Police.

Creation of more posts of SP has been proposed in different units of police across the country, including four in Naval Police, six in Tourist Police, three in Chattogram Range Office, two in Mymensingh Range Office, two in Khulna Range Office, two in Rajshahi Range Office and two in Sylhet Range Office.