Seven police officers, including Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, former Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and former chief of its Detective Branch (DB), have been dismissed from service, while another officer has been sent into compulsory retirement.
The decisions were announced in 8 separate notifications signed by Home Ministry Senior Secretary Manzur Morshed Chowdhury on Saturday.
The disciplinary actions followed departmental investigations that established the allegations against the officers. The decisions were taken in accordance with the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, following consultations with the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) and approval from the president.
The 6 other dismissed officers are former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Rajshahi Range Md Anisur Rahman; Additional DIG Shyamal Kumar Mukherjee, attached to the office of the DIG in Rajshahi; former Superintendent of Police (SP) of Lakshmipur district Tarek Bin Rashid; former Additional Superintendent of Police of the Naval Police SM Jahangir Hasan; and former DMP Assistant Commissioners Farhana Taskin and Moniruzzaman Sarkar.
In addition, former DMP Assistant Commissioner Kazi Mizanur Rahman has been sent into compulsory retirement.
Two officers dismissed over prolonged absence abroad
Among the dismissed officers, Farhana Taskin and Moniruzzaman Sarkar were accused of remaining absent from their workplaces for extended periods while staying abroad.
Farhana Taskin was an Assistant Commissioner of the DMP's Administration-Traffic North Division. She travelled to Canada on February 15, 2018, taking 42 days of leave to visit her husband. Later, citing illness, she applied for an additional 36 days of leave.
She subsequently applied for study leave to pursue a 3-year Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) course at an educational institution in Canada. However, the ministry rejected her application and instructed her to return to Bangladesh and rejoin her workplace.
According to the notification, she did not return after her leave expired on March 28, 2018.
A departmental case was filed against her on February 17, 2025, and the investigation established the charge of abandonment of service.
She also failed to respond to a second show-cause notice. Following the BPSC's recommendation and the president's approval, she was dismissed from service with effect from March 28, 2018.
Meanwhile, former DMP Assistant Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Sarkar went on deputation in 2012 to pursue a PhD in criminology at Kingston University in the United Kingdom.
His unpaid leave was extended several times. Most recently, he applied for a further 2-year extension, covering the period from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021.
However, the Home Ministry rejected the application and instructed him to return to Bangladesh and rejoin his workplace. Despite receiving the directive, he did not return.
A departmental case was filed against him on October 5, 2020. The investigation established the allegations of misconduct and abandonment of service.
As he failed to respond to a second show-cause notice, he was dismissed from service with effect from July 1, 2019, following the BPSC's recommendation and the president's approval.
Three senior officers dismissed over unauthorized absence
Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid was last serving as Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the DMP. He had remained absent from his workplace since August 6, 2024, without permission from the appropriate authority.
Despite repeated attempts to contact him at his current and permanent addresses and through email, he did not return to work.
A departmental case was filed against him on April 15, 2026. Following an investigation, the charge of abandonment of service was established beyond reasonable doubt. He also failed to respond to a second show-cause notice.
Subsequently, following the president's approval and the BPSC's recommendation, he was dismissed from service with effect from August 6, 2024.
Former Additional DIG Shyamal Kumar Mukherjee was last posted to the Tourist Police. On January 1, 2025, he was attached to the office of the DIG of Rajshahi Range.
After joining the office on January 22, he submitted a departure report on the same day, stating that he would take 3 weeks of rest. However, he did not return to his workplace after the stipulated period.
A departmental case was filed against him on July 3, 2025. The investigation established the charge of abandonment of service, and he was dismissed from service with effect from January 22, 2025.
Former DIG of Rajshahi Range Md Anisur Rahman joined the Naval Police on August 27, 2024, following his attachment to the unit.
On February 17, 2025, he submitted a report citing illness but did not specify the type or duration of leave or his place of stay. He also failed to submit the required documents.
Despite receiving several notices, he did not return to his workplace.
A departmental case was subsequently filed against him on charges of misconduct and abandonment of service. The investigation established both allegations.
Following the BPSC's recommendation and the president's approval, he was dismissed from service with effect from February 17, 2025.
Additional superintendent of police dismissed after failing to return from leave
Former Additional Superintendent of Police SM Jahangir Hasan was serving in the Tangail region of the Naval Police.
He left his workplace on October 8, 2024, after taking 15 days of leave. Although his application for an additional 60 days of leave was later rejected, he did not return to work.
A departmental case was filed against him on charges of abandonment of service. The investigation established the allegation, and he was dismissed from service with effect from October 23, 2024, following the BPSC's recommendation and the president's approval.
Assistant superintendent of police sent into compulsory retirement over misconduct
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kazi Mizanur Rahman has been sent into compulsory retirement instead of being dismissed from service.
He was serving in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dinajpur. Earlier, he had served as an Assistant Commissioner at the DMP's Tejgaon Traffic Zone.
According to the allegations in the departmental case, he became acquainted with the wife of a constable of the Barisal Metropolitan Police through Facebook in April 2022. He was subsequently accused of becoming involved in an extramarital relationship with the woman.
A summary of the departmental case documents stated that the court's observations in a case filed over the incident also referred to their consensual physical relationship.
The departmental investigation found that such conduct by a police officer had tarnished the image of the police force.
He was charged with misconduct under Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.
After the allegation was established through a departmental investigation, a decision was taken to send him into compulsory retirement.
The order was issued on October 25 following the BPSC's recommendation and the president's approval.
