Government Discusses Possible Change in Bangladesh Police Chief, Four Senior Officers in Consideration

Discussions have reportedly begun at the highest levels of the Bangladesh government about appointing a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) following recent remarks on “crossfire” by incumbent police chief Md. Ali Hossain Fakir. A final decision may come after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returns from his visit to Japan, according to reports citing relevant sources.

Four senior officers from the 15th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch are reportedly under consideration for the country’s top police post. They are Additional IGP Hasib Aziz, chief of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn); Additional IGP Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID); Additional IGP Md. Ahsan Habib Palash, director general of the Special Response Battalion (SRB); and Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The incumbent IGP, Ali Hossain Fakir, also belongs to the same batch.

The appointment will ultimately depend on the prime minister’s decision, and other candidates could emerge beyond the four names currently being discussed. Intelligence reports, the officers’ professional records and their ability to perform the responsibilities of the post may be considered during the selection process.

Reports also state that the Prime Minister’s Office has requested files containing the personal and professional details of the four senior officers.

The IGP’s remarks on “crossfire” have triggered criticism in political and government circles. BNP Acting Secretary General and the prime minister’s political adviser, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, described the comments as “embarrassing” for the government. The prime minister’s adviser on information and broadcasting, Zahed Ur Rahman, said the prime minister would consider the matter after returning to the country.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the IGP’s remarks on crossfire were “not appropriate” and reiterated the government’s “zero tolerance” policy on the issue. His comments have added momentum to speculation about a possible change in the police leadership, according to the reports.

Following the criticism, the Police Headquarters issued a statement explaining the IGP’s remarks. It said he had used the term “crossfire” metaphorically. The statement also described his comments suggesting that journalists write about drugs only when they do not receive a share of the proceeds as inadvertent. The Bangladesh Police Service Association also issued a statement defending the IGP’s remarks.

What Did the IGP Say?
At an event in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, on Monday, October 26, IGP Ali Hossain Fakir said police would not hesitate to engage in “crossfire” if the government authorised it. At the same event, he said police were labelled “fascist” when they used force and called “weak” when they remained inactive. He also stressed the need to provide police with an appropriate environment to carry out their law-enforcement duties.

The IGP also made controversial remarks about journalists, claiming that they write about drugs when they do not receive a share of drug-related money and alleging that the police had become ineffective.

The comments drew strong criticism from political figures, human rights advocates and other groups. Later that night, Police Headquarters clarified that the IGP had not used “crossfire” to refer to extrajudicial killings or punishment, but had employed the term metaphorically to describe the strict enforcement of the law against criminals.