6 police officers dismissed for unauthorized absence, negligence

The government has dismissed six police officers from service on charges of unauthorized absence from their workstations and negligence of duty. The decision was announced through six separate gazette notifications signed by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Monzur Morshed Chowdhury under the orders of the President on Wednesday (August 12).

The dismissed officers are Biplab Kumar Sarkar and Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Joint Commissioners of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) attached to the Barishal Range DIG office; Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, former Deputy Commissioner of the DMP's Wari Division attached to the Khulna Range DIG office; Kazi Ashrafual Azeem, former Deputy Commissioner of the DMP's Uttara Division attached to the Chattogram Range DIG office; Rajan Kumar Das, Additional Superintendent of Police in the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Cox's Bazar; and Md. Golam Ruhani, former Assistant Commissioner of the DMP.

According to the notifications, departmental investigations proved charges of desertion, misconduct, and unauthorized absence from duty against these officers under government employee regulations. Although they were issued show-cause notices multiple times, none of them provided satisfactory replies.

Records show that Biplab Kumar Sarkar had been absent without leave since August 6, 2024; Sudip Kumar Chakraborty since August 22; Iqbal Hossain since August 28; and Kazi Ashrafual Azeem since August 14, 2024. Meanwhile, Rajan Kumar Das failed to join work on December 31, 2024, following the expiration of his approved leave from December 25 to 30. Md. Golam Ruhani had been absent without official permission since August 11, 2024.

The notifications stated that following a review of the departmental case data, a preliminary decision was made to dismiss them. Subsequently, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission was consulted in accordance with government employee rules, and the commission concurred with the termination decision. The President, acting as the appointing authority, then approved their dismissal.

The effective dates of dismissal vary by officer based on their absence records: Biplab Kumar Sarkar from August 6, 2024; Sudip Kumar Chakraborty from August 22; Mohammad Iqbal Hossain from August 28; Kazi Ashrafual Azeem from August 14; Md. Golam Ruhani from August 11; and Rajan Kumar Das from December 31, 2024.

Considering the gravity of the offenses and the proven allegations in the departmental proceedings, the maximum penalty of dismissal from service was enforced against them under government employee rules.