Religious Discrimination within Bangladesh Police: Plot to Remove Hindu Officers from Key Positions

Following the resignation of the Awami League government on August 5, 2023, the Bangladesh Police has witnessed a significant shift in its upper echelons, with no Hindu officers currently holding any important positions. Prior to this change, there were four Hindu officers in senior positions within the police force, but all have now been either removed or reassigned.

Until August 5, the four Hindu officers in key roles included Krishna Pod Roy and Debdas Bhattacharya, both of whom held the rank of Additional Inspector General (Additional IGP), and Joydev Kumar Bhadra and Shyamol Kumar Nath, both serving as Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG). Of these, the two Additional IGPs and DIG Joydev Kumar Bhadra were dismissed from service. Shyamol Kumar Nath, while still employed, no longer holds any official responsibilities, as he was transferred from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) headquarters on September 1.

Krishna Pod Roy, Debdas Bhattacharya, and Joydev Kumar Bhadra, all of whom had served successfully in their roles for over a decade and a half, were forced into retirement by the interim government. The official notification for their removal cited the Public Service Act, 2018 (Section 45), which allows for retirement of any government employee after 25 years of service “in the public interest.” However, the legality of such dismissals without any proven criminal involvement has raised questions about the fairness of these actions.

Since the fall of the Awami League government, many other senior police officers have also been dismissed from their posts. A list of notable dismissals includes:

• August 13: Additional IGPs Monirul Islam and Habibur Rahman (DMP Commissioner) were retired, along with Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Moniruzzaman and DIG of Rangpur Range, Md. Abdul Baten.
• August 21: Additional IGPs Md. Atiqur Rahman and Md. Anwar Hossain, along with DIG Md. Asaduzzaman, were sent into retirement.
• August 22: Additional IGP Debdas Bhattacharya, along with DIGs A.K.M. Hafiz Akhter, Bashir Ahmed, Police Super Mizanur Rahman, ASP Rafiqul Islam, and Dadan Fakir were dismissed.
• August 27: Additional IGP Krishna Pod Roy, Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Md. Mozammel Haque, and KMP Additional Commissioner Sarwar Rakibul Islam were sent into retirement.
• September 2: Additional IGPs Khondokar Lutful Kabir and Mir Rezaul Alam, Additional DIG Chowdhury Manjurul Kabir, and DIG Imam Hossain were also dismissed.

Over the past few years, rumors have circulated regarding the dominance of Hindus in the police and administration. One notable rumor spread by advisor Asif Nazrul claimed that “26 lakh Indians are working in government jobs,” which has contributed to a growing suspicion within the public. Additionally, the Chief Advisor’s comment during communal violence, suggesting that “they are not being persecuted as Hindus, but as supporters of the boat symbol,” has led many to question whether the removal of Hindu officers from the police force is part of a strategy to weaken the influence of the Awami League.

If this is the state of affairs within the police force, it raises serious concerns about the status of Hindu officers within the broader administration, warranting a thorough review of their situation.