Ex-DB chief Harun, six senior cops dismissed finally

Government has dismissed seven police officers including former chief of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid from service for remaining absent from their workplaces for an extended period without permission.

Their unauthorised absence was treated as desertion under government service rules, leading to the disciplinary action.

The Home Ministry's Discipline-1 Branch issued a notification in this regard on Saturday. The notification issued with the approval of the president said Harun's dismissal would be effective from August 6, 2024.

The six other dismissed officers are: Additional DIG of Dhaka Tourist Police Shyamol Kumar Mukherjee,  Lakshmipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Tarek Bin Rashid, DIG of Rajshahi Range Md Anisur Rahman, DMP Assistant Police Commissioner (AC) Farhana Taskin, DMP AC Md Moniruzzaman Sarker and Additional Superintendent of Police of Tangail River Police SM Jahangir Hasan.

According to the notification, Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, a DIG-ranked officer, was serving as Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the DMP when he remained absent from his workplace without approval from the competent authority.

Despite repeated attempts to contact him at his current and permanent addresses and through his email, he did not return to work.

Police Headquarters later sent a letter to the Home Ministry recommending departmental action against him. Subsequently, departmental case No. 005/2025 was filed against him on April 15, 2026.

A show-cause notice was issued seeking his explanation, but he neither submitted a written reply nor sought an extension of time.

As the charge of desertion was found to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, he was dismissed from service with effect from the date of his unauthorised absence.