500 cadet SIs in uncertainty with no passing-out after 2 months of training

Highlights

• They joined training in Nov 2023
• Their passing-out parade scheduled for 31 Oct 2024
• But that was postponed citing unavoidable circumstances
• New passing-out date scheduled for 26 Nov also postponed
• 321 out of 823 trainees dismissed in four phases

Belal Hossain (not his real name), is one of the trainee cadets of the 40th batch of sub-inspectors (SIs) in the police force. About a year ago, he joined training at the Sardah Academy in Rajshahi. 

However, even two months after he completed the training, the passing-out parade has not taken place, leaving each day at the Sardah Academy a nightmare of uncertainty for him. He is having to manage his daily expenses by bringing money from home.

"I joined the training in November 2023… According to the rules, we should have already started serving in various units of the police. However, the passing-out parade has not yet taken place, and no one can say for sure when it will happen," said Belal.

"My family members are also worried about me, whereas just a year ago, I was their reason for pride." 

After the passing-out parade was postponed twice despite dates being set, over 500 cadets from the 40th batch of SIs, like Belal, are spending their days in uncertainty.

Even the Police Headquarters cannot confirm when their passing-out parade will take place. 

"At the moment, we cannot say when the passing-out will happen. Once a date is set, it will be announced to the media," Inamur Haque Sagar, AIG (Media & PR) of the Police Headquarters, told TBS.

According to sources at the Police Headquarters and Sardah Academy, the year-long basic training for the 40th batch of SI cadets began on 4 November 2023. 

As per regulations, the cadets were scheduled to join various units of the police on 4 November 2024, upon completion of their training. 

The first passing-out parade was initially scheduled for 31 October but was postponed. The reason cited was unavoidable circumstances. A new date, 26 November, was then set, which was also postponed.

Over 300 dismissed

After the parade was postponed twice, 321 out of 823 members were dismissed in four phases on charges of breaching discipline. The latest dismissal involved eight cadets on 1 January.

The dismissal of such a large number of trainee SIs from a single batch on charges of breaching discipline is unprecedented in the 112-year history of the Bangladesh Police Academy. 

The dismissal of over 300 at the final stage of training and the delay of the passing-out parade by two months have instilled a fear of job loss among the remaining trainee SIs as well.

During basic training, trainees do not receive any salary; the government, however, provides food and training uniforms. They receive a monthly training allowance of Tk1,825, which is far too little to cover their needs as each trainee has to pay the monthly salary of their assigned support staff (room boy) amounting to Tk2,500 per person.

"Each day feels like a year for us," said Shishir Ahmed (a pseudonym), a trainee sub-inspector.

"We receive an allowance of Tk1,825, but we have to pay Tk2,500 to the room boy who helps us with our tasks. Every month, we have to bring money from home. How long can this go on?"

The trainees have stated that since the second postponement of the passing-out parade, they have been living in a state of extreme uncertainty for nearly a month. They are following the same routine of parades and classes, but no one knows when this training will end.

Even the senior officials at the academy are not providing any information.

Additional IGP Masudur Rahman, who is the principal of the police academy, told this newspaper, "The passing-out date has not yet been set. However, it will take place within the next 10-12 days. Everyone who is currently here will be able to participate in the passing-out."

On 18 December, 25 assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) of the 40th BCS were issued show-cause letters on charges of breaching discipline. It is alleged that, based on intelligence reports, the SI trainees were given show-cause notices and subsequently dismissed. 

Consequently, there is now a growing fear of job loss among the ASPs as well.