Passing-out parade of trainee SIs to be held tomorrow amid protests

Highlights

• 480 trainee SIs of the 40th cadet batch to phase-out tomorrow
• IGP Baharul Alam will attend as the chief guest
• Dismissed SIs are on hunger strike, alleging unfair dismissal over minor infractions
• Parade was earlier postponed on 26 November 2024

The passing-out parade for trainee sub-inspectors (SIs) will be held at Bangladesh Police Academy in Rajshahi's Sardah amid ongoing protests by dismissed trainees.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam will be the chief guest at the event, said Enamul Haque Sagar, assistant inspector general (AIG) of Media and Public Relations at the Police Headquarters, today (14 January).

"480 cadet SIs will pass out tomorrow. IGP has already arrived in Rajshahi today," the AIG said.

According to police academy sources, a total of 821 SIs were enrolled for training in the 40th cadet batch. They started their basic training on 4 November 2023. Of these, 22 were dismissed for serious offences at various times.

A total of 321 SIs were issued show-cause notices in four phases for creating disturbances on the field and in the classroom. They have already been dismissed from their jobs.

Among them, 252 were dismissed on 21 October 2024, 58 on 4 November, 3 on 18 November, and 8 on 1 January 2025.

The passing-out date for these SIs was previously postponed on 26 November 2014.

Meanwhile, the SIs who have been dismissed for various "excuses" have been on a hunger strike in front of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka since yesterday afternoon.

The dismissed SIs have been accused of causing disturbances by not eating their breakfast and creating chaos during training.

The remaining 480 members of this batch are scheduled to pass out tomorrow.