Who will be next IGP?

Rabiul Haque: Three months ago, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun took over as the Inspector General of Police (IGP). He is the 31st IGP of Bangladesh Police. His tenure will end on January 11. As a result, Bangladesh Police is going to get the 32nd IGP in less than three and a half months. There is no end to the speculation about who will be the head of this law enforcement force in the future. Discussions are going on whether a new official is coming to this post or the current IGP will be appointed on contractual basis and the term will be extended.
Those concerned say that the country’s political arena may remain unstable this year with the twelfth national election ahead. Various quarters are also fearing political violence. Police play a major role in combating violence in the political arena. At such a time, calculations are going on as to who is coming to the charge of police chief. The government wants to keep the officer who is able to perform the duties properly even under pressure.
It has been found that several people, including the current police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, are in talks to become the IGP. However, as there is no precedent of contractual appointment to the post of IGP, there is doubt whether the tenure of the current IGP will be extended or not. In that case, the additional inspector general (administration) of the police headquarters can come to the post of new IGP considering seniority and skill.
However, the stakeholders are not ruling out the possibility of extending the tenure of the current IGP through contractual appointment. If so, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun will create a new record in the police force.
According to the sources of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Headquarters, only those officers who can play a role efficiently in the national elections and various crises will be appointed to the new IGP post. Taking into consideration the overall situation and context, a file has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office proposing the names of some qualified and skilled persons along with extending the contractual term of the current IGP.
Meanwhile, the police officers involved in the talks are also in touch with various quarters of the government. There is a last-minute race for the post of the 32nd police chief of the country. However, the government may move towards appointing a new IGP, seeing his expertise and seniority in dealing with the crisis.
According to police headquarters sources, there is no specific tenure for the post of IGP. According to government service rules, officials retire at the age of 59 years. As per government service rules on January 11, current IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun’s tenure will end as he will reach the age of 59 years. According to the rules, he is serving as IGP for only three months and 11 days.
However, Hasan Mahmud Khandkar was the IGP for the maximum period of four years in the history of Bangladesh Police. He was in charge of IGP from August 31, 2010 to December 31, 2014.
Md. Kamrul Ahsan
Additional Inspector General (Administration) of the Police Headquarters Kamrul Ahsan is in discussion for the appointment of the 32nd IGP post. He joined BCS 12th batch (Police) cadre in 1991. After training, he was posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Khagrachari district. After that, Kamrul Ahsan became the ASP of Hathazari circle of Chittagong district.
Kamrul Ahsan served as a ‘Police Advisor’ in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Sierra Leone and Sudan. He received the ‘United Nations Peacekeeping Medal’ for his exemplary contribution to the missions.
Kamrul Ahsan was born in 1966 in Imampur of Matlab Uttar Upazila of Chandpur. Graduated from Mymensingh Agricultural University and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from South East University.
SM Ruhul Amin
Additional IGP SM Ruhul Amin, head of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), a specialized branch of the police formed to fight militancy and terrorism, is in the race to become IGP. He is a BCS 12th batch police cadre officer. Ruhul Amin served as Deputy Commissioner of Police of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Superintendent of Police of Sylhet District.
This officer has served as Special Superintendent of Police of CID in Dhaka, Additional DIG of Chittagong Range and DIG of Railway Police, Commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) and Additional IGP (Logistics and Asset Acquisition) of Police Headquarters. He has worked in UN peacekeeping missions for Bangladesh in several countries including Ivory Coast, South Sudan.
SM Ruhul Amin was born in Sadar Thana of Gopalganj district. He obtained his master’s degree with honors from the International Relations Department of Dhaka University.
Abdullah Al-Mamun
Current IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun can be re-appointed as IGP even though his term of service has expired. In that case, the government can appoint him on contractual basis. Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun joined the police cadre as an officer of the eighth BCS batch. According to government service rules, he will be 59 years old on January 11. As a result, the employment period will also end. According to the rules, he will serve as IGP for only three months and 11 days.
Meanwhile, according to police headquarters sources, no officer has been appointed in police cadre in 9th, 10th and 11th BCS. Again, 13th and 14th BCS have not been appointed in the police cadre. It also showed some hesitation about appointing an officer to the post of IGP on the basis of seniority after the current IGP.

Mallick Faqrul Islam, BPM, PPM Additional Inspector General (Addl. IG), Bangladesh Police was born and raised in Bagerhat District. He joined Bangladesh Police in 1991 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 12th special BCS securing 3rd position in merit list through Public Service Commission.