Government dismisses six senior police officers for unauthorized absence and misconduct

The Bangladeshi government on Wednesday dismissed six senior police officers from service, including a former deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) who gained notoriety for his controversial remarks during the July student-led uprising.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued six separate notifications formalizing the dismissals. Each of the officers was cited for unauthorized absence from their respective workplaces, a violation classified as “absconding” under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

The dismissed officials include Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, the former deputy commissioner of the Wari division of the DMP, along with DMP’s former deputy commissioner of the Uttara division, Kazi Ashraful Azim, and former joint commissioners Biplab Kumar Sarkar and Sudip Kumar Chakraborty. The list also includes the former assistant commissioner of the DMP, Mohammad Golam Ruhani, and Rajan Kumar Das, the former additional superintendent of police of the 8th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar.

Mohammad Iqbal Hossain had previously drawn widespread public outrage after a 43-second video surfaced online during the July protests. In the footage, he was seen briefing then-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on the suppression of demonstrators, stating that his forces were struggling to contain the crowd because “shooting one kills one, but the others do not disperse.” Despite the public scrutiny surrounding his conduct, the ministry’s formal notification cited his dismissal solely on the grounds of his unauthorized absence since August 28, 2024, noting that he failed to respond to multiple show-cause notices issued during departmental proceedings.

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Other officers faced similar findings. Kazi Ashraful Azim was dismissed for misconduct and absconding effective August 14, 2024, after he failed to report to the Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General’s office following his transfer. Biplab Kumar Sarkar was terminated effective August 6, 2024, and Sudip Kumar Chakraborty effective August 22, 2024, both for failing to report to their assigned duties at the Barishal Range office following their previous suspensions.

Mohammad Golam Ruhani was dismissed effective August 11, 2024, for failing to join his new posting at the APBn and specialized training center in Khagrachari. Rajan Kumar Das was terminated effective December 31, 2024, after he failed to return from a five-day leave of absence.

The notifications state that the dismissals were finalized following reviews of investigation reports, consultations with the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, and formal approval from the President. All terminations are effective from the respective dates the officers first went absent without authorization.