Police constables recruited between 2014 and 2024 are set to come under scrutiny as Bangladesh Police has ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities in those recruitment but the recruitment from 2009 to 2013 were kept out of purview despite sensational fraud in the process.
* 2009-2024: About one lakh trainee constables were appointed
* 2009-2013: 1,000, including residents of various villages in Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka district, were appointed as police constables
* A big question has arisen as to why the 5-year period from 2009 to 2013 not being scanned
The decision was issued in an office order recently by Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, directing district-level committees to probe allegations of corruption, rule violations, and other irregularities during the processes.
"At least eight to ten thousand constables are recruited in the force yearly. In that way, the number of recruited constables during the period is not less than 70,000," said a PHQ official, requesting anonymity told The Daily Observer.
Between 2011 and October 31, 2013, 1,000 people, including residents of various villages in Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka district, were appointed as police constables.
According to the order, district-level committees headed by superintendents of police (SPs) will conduct the inquiry and submit their findings, along with opinions, to Police Headquarters by April 15, 2026.
But a big question has arisen as to why the 5-year period from 2009 to 2013, the period of the highest corruption in the police constable recruitment process, was not brought under investigation. Some police officers themselves have raised questions about who and in whose interest these 5 years were not brought under investigation.
One issue under investigation is whether candidates from other districts secured jobs by using false addresses and were treated as permanent residents based solely on land purchases in the recruiting district.
It is known that from 2009 to 2024, about one lakh trainee constables were appointed to the police for a period of 15 years. Of these, there were widespread irregularities and corruption in this appointment from 2009 to 2018. The Superintendent of Police of each district is the head of the constable recruitment.
During this time, even if they did not pass the written exam, only ministers, MPs, leaders at various levels of the Awami League, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Police Headquarters, and even the Range DIG's office would send lists to the district police superintendents.
The committees will also examine allegations that some candidates were allowed to sit recruitment examinations in separate rooms under the supervision of special police members in exchange for unethical benefits.
Another matter under review is whether candidates were declared eligible or ineligible for recruitment based on their own or their family members' political affiliations.
They will further investigate allegations of question paper leaks and assess whether authorities took action against dishonest police personnel, broker networks, fraud rings, or others who may have disrupted the examination process.
The directive was sent to superintendents of police in all districts, according to the order forwarded for implementation by Additional DIG (Recruitment and Career Planning-1) Md Abu Hasan at PHQ.
Police sources said that earlier, appointments were made based on lists sent from ministers, MPs, leaders of various levels of Awami League, the Prime Minister's Office, the Home Ministry, the Police Headquarters and the Range DIG's Office. After Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal took charge as Home Ministers, lists were sent from their offices to each district. The appointment process was completed based on that list.
There are allegations that until 2018, the ruling party leaders tried to influence the recruitment of police constables in all districts. Party MPs and ministers sent DO letters (semi-official letters) to the Superintendents of Police (SPs) for recruitment to these posts.
If they did not lobby, the SPs often had to face difficulties. There are also allegations that many district Superintendents of Police (SPs) also made appointments through financial means.
According to sources, former SP and DIG of Madaripur district Subrata Kumar Halder, was sent to jail on charges of accepting bribes on the pretext of offering a job as a police constable. In 2019, there was an incident of corruption in the recruitment of constables while he was the Superintendent of Police of Madaripur.
He gave extra marks to the candidates for the recruitment exam using special symbols and took a bribe of Tk 1.69 crore from 17 candidates. The police headquarters wrote a letter to the ACC to investigate the matter and take action. Later, the ACC investigated and filed a case against him. Subrata Kumar Halder went to jail in that case.
