Five Senior Police Officers Retired

The Government of Bangladesh has ordered the compulsory retirement of five senior officers of the Bangladesh Police holding the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police (Additional IGP). Among those affected by the decision is Kusum Dewan, the Chief of the Naval Police. The move has been described by officials as part of an administrative decision taken in the public interest.

The directive was issued on Sunday, 8 March, through separate notifications signed by Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the official notices, the officers have been retired under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018.

Under Section 45 of the Act, the government retains the authority to retire a public servant before the completion of their service period if it deems such action necessary in the public interest. In such circumstances, the concerned officials remain entitled to all retirement benefits in accordance with the prevailing rules and regulations. The notifications confirm that the decision regarding the five senior police officials was implemented under the same legal provision.

The officers sent into retirement include Kusum Dewan, Abu Hasan Muhammad Tariq, Md Abdul Alim Mahmud, Md Masudur Rahman, and Md Towfiq Mahbub Chowdhury. Each of them has served the Bangladesh Police for many years in various key administrative and operational roles.

Administrative sources indicate that two of the retired officials had recently been attached to the ministry as Officers on Special Duty (OSD), while the others were serving in different operational or institutional assignments within the police structure.

Officers Sent into Compulsory Retirement

Among them, Kusum Dewan had been serving as the Chief of the Naval Police since October 2024. During his tenure, the Naval Police conducted various operations aimed at strengthening law enforcement along Bangladesh’s extensive river network. These efforts included preventing illegal sand extraction, combating river-based smuggling, and improving security and monitoring across inland waterways.

Bangladesh’s river routes play a vital role in trade, transport, and local livelihoods, making the work of the Naval Police particularly significant. Under Dewan’s leadership, several initiatives were undertaken to enhance coordination between riverine law enforcement units and local administrations in order to address criminal activities in river ports and waterways.

The rank of Additional Inspector General of Police occupies a highly influential position within the organisational hierarchy of the Bangladesh Police. Officers at this level typically lead specialised units, training institutions, or strategic divisions of the force. They are also responsible for shaping policy implementation, operational oversight, and professional development within their respective commands.

Government officials often resort to administrative restructuring, transfers, or early retirement measures as part of broader organisational adjustments within the civil service. Observers within the police administration believe that the latest move may form part of an ongoing structural realignment within the force.

The notifications further state that the retired officers will receive pension and other retirement benefits in accordance with government rules. Relevant departments have been instructed to complete the necessary administrative procedures to implement the decision.

While the development has drawn attention within administrative circles, neither the Ministry of Home Affairs nor Police Headquarters has issued any additional public explanation regarding the reasons behind the decision. Officials, however, emphasise that the action was taken within the legal framework governing public service administration.