The government has taken disciplinary action against seven police officers over prolonged absence from workplaces, disobedience of official orders and misconduct, dismissing six of them from service and sending another into compulsory retirement.
The dismissed officers include a Deputy Inspector General (DIG), an Additional DIG, an additional superintendent of police (ASP) and two assistant commissioners (AC) equivalent to ASP rank, among others.
The disciplinary actions were taken following departmental inquiries that established the allegations, recommendations from the Public Service Commission (PSC) and approval from the President, under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, according to separate notifications issued by the Discipline-1 and Discipline-2 wings of the Home Ministry on Saturday.
The six dismissed officers are DIG Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, former Additional DIG Shyamal Kumar Mukherjee, former DIG Md Anisur Rahman, former Assistant Commissioners Farhana Taskin and Md Moniruzzaman Sarker, and former Additional Superintendent of Police SM Jahangir Hossain. Assistant Superintendent of Police Kazi Mizanur Rahman has been placed on compulsory retirement.
Two officers remained abroad
Farhana Taskin and Md Moniruzzaman Sarker were dismissed for prolonged absence from their workplaces while staying abroad.
Farhana Taskin, formerly an assistant commissioner (AC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's-Traffic North Division, went to Canada on a 42-day foreign leave on February 15, 2018. She later sought an extension on health grounds and applied for study leave to pursue a three-year CPA course at a Canadian educational institution. The ministry rejected her application and instructed her to return to the country, but she did not comply. Her dismissal took effect from March 28, 2018, after a departmental inquiry established the allegation of desertion.
Md Moniruzzaman Sarker, a former DMP's assistant commissioner, went to the UK in 2012 on deputation to pursue a PhD in criminology at Kingston University. After several extensions of unpaid leave, his latest request for a further two-year extension was rejected, and he was instructed to return to duty. He did not comply. Following a departmental inquiry, he was dismissed with effect from July 1, 2019, on charges of misconduct and desertion.
3 senior officers' prolonged absence
Harun Or Rashid, last serving as an additional commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the DMP, remained absent from duty without permission from August 6, 2024. Despite repeated attempts to contact him at his current and permanent addresses and by email, he did not return. A departmental inquiry established the charge of desertion, leading to his dismissal effective from that date.
Shyamal Kumar Mukherjee, formerly posted at Tourist Police, was attached to the office of the Rajshahi Range DIG on January 1, 2025. After joining on January 22, he submitted a departure report citing a three-week rest period but did not return after the stipulated time. He was dismissed effective from January 22, 2025, after the charge of desertion was established.
Former Rajshahi Range DIG Md Anisur Rahman joined the River Police on August 27, 2024. He later submitted a report citing illness but did not specify the type or duration of leave or his place of stay, nor did he provide the required documents. Despite repeated notices, he did not rejoin duty. An inquiry established charges of misconduct and desertion, and he was dismissed effective from February 17, 2025.
Additional SP dismissed, ASP sent into retirement
Former Additional Superintendent of Police SM Jahangir Hossain, who was posted in the Tangail region of River Police, went on 15 days of foreign leave on October 8, 2024. His subsequent application for a 60-day extension was rejected, but he did not return to duty. He was dismissed effective from October 23, 2024, after an inquiry proved the charge of desertion.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kazi Mizanur Rahman, who was serving in the CID's Dinajpur district, was sent into compulsory retirement over misconduct.
According to departmental records, he was accused of having an extramarital relationship with the wife of a constable of Barishal Metropolitan Police after becoming acquainted with her through Facebook in April 2022. The departmental inquiry found the allegation of misconduct established, citing observations in a court case concerning the matter.
The ministry notifications, signed by Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury on behalf of the President, directed that the disciplinary orders take immediate effect.