Home adviser labels long-absent policemen as criminals

Home Adviser Lt Gen Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has said they considered the police personnel absent from their duties for long as criminal and warned of taking legal action against them.

“Some 187 police officials have remained absent from their duties. They would have to be exposed to justice as they are now criminal to us,” he said.

He made the remarks after emerging from the 2nd meeting of the law and order affairs advisory council at the Home Ministry’s conference room, reports BSS.

The Home Adviser said they were planning to recruit new police personnel in the force saying that an advertisement of appointing more police constables in the force has already been published.

“While advertisement for recruiting sub inspectors would be published in a day or two. Members of BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and Ansar would also be recruited,” he said.

Earlier on September 17 last, the Police Headquarters in a statement said 187 police officials, including one Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and seven additional DIGs, have remained absent in their duties since August 1, 2024.

Of the police officials, two are police supers, one additional police super, five assistant police supers, five inspectors, 14 sub-inspectors and sergeants, nine assistant sub-inspectors, seven nayek and 136 constables.

Ninety-six of them are now on overstay on leave, 49 are irregular in service, three quitted jobs willingly and remained absent and 39 others are also absent.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a mass uprising, most of the police officers went into hiding.

The uprising was triggered by large-scale student-led protests, during which law enforcement used excessive force and fired upon the crowds.

This brutal crackdown resulted in several hundred deaths and thousands of injuries.