Police in search of 'honest, impartial and efficient' inspectors for appointment as OCs ahead of polls
Previously, the home affairs adviser vowed several times that no officials would be given tasks in the upcoming election if they were involved in the previous sham elections.
The Bangladesh Police Headquarters is eyeing "Honest, impartial and efficient inspectors in administrative work" for appointing them as officers-in-charge across the country ahead of the much-anticipated national elections after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
Under her more than 15 years of rule, elections were rigged and sham, heavily criticised at home and abroad. Dozens of Bangladesh Police officials and Bangladesh Administrative Service members, including a former election commission secretary, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the controversial elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024.
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Earlier, the home affairs adviser vowed several times that no officials would be given tasks in the upcoming election if they were involved in those sham elections.
On 16 November, Awlad Hossain, additional inspector general (administration) of police headquarters, sent a letter seeking the names of "Honest, Efficient and Impartial" inspectors to appoint them as officers in charge of at least 639 police stations across the country.
The letter has already been sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, the additional inspector general of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Special Branch (SB). These three units are given priority in the letter.
In the letter, AIG Awlad Hossain wrote, "In the interest of conducting the upcoming national parliamentary election in a fair and peaceful manner, it is extremely important to appoint qualified and impartial officers-in-charge (OCs) at every police station. The role of the head of a police station is highly significant in maintaining normal law and order and in complying with the instructions of the Election Commission.
"In this context, you are requested to immediately prepare and send to the Personnel Management-2 Branch a list of honest, impartial, and administratively competent police inspectors working under your unit, who possess the qualities required for appointment as officers-in-charge of police stations in various districts under different ranges for duty during the upcoming national election," he concluded.
In late October, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said, officials who had even minimal involvement or played only a nominal role in the last three national elections in Bangladesh will not be assigned any responsibilities in the upcoming national election.
Muhammad Yunus made this decision at a high-level meeting, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said.
"Especially in the field administration, DCs (deputy commissioners), ADCs (additional deputy commissioners), UNOs (upazila nirbahi Ooficers), and those serving as district magistrates, should not be posted to any positions if they were involved in the past three elections."
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday (16 November) announced a series of measures aimed at ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful general election, including a decision to exclude officials who previously served in elections held under the "fascist regime."
Speaking to reporters following a core committee meeting on law and order at the home ministry, Jahangir said authorities would "refrain as much as possible" from assigning election duties to personnel involved in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 polls.
