A number of high-profile police officials have submitted applications to the police headquarters at the fag-end of the government praying for a long leave.
These police officials are reported to have ruled the roost on the streets over the past five-year rule of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, said a sources in police.
The list of those officials includes deputy inspector general, superintended of police, joint commissioners, deputy commissioners and important police station officers-in-charge.
Some of those who were sure of not obtaining leave they applied for a transfer to a district or to the newly opened police departments or branches of police or Criminal Investigation Department and National Security Intelligence Department.
Such attitude of high-ranking police officials has not only upset the police headquarters it has also worried the home ministry.
The authorities in the police headquarters as per instruction of the home ministry have not granted the leave applications of several officials.
Additional Inspector General (admin) of Police AKM Shahidul Haque, however, strongly denied the fact of such applications.
He said this was a regular phenomenon in the police department and every year around 15-20 police officials who pursue a higher degree in a foreign country submit leave applications.
The officials have the right to submit applications or prayer for foreign degree, he said adding that there is nothing wrong with that.
Proloy Kumar Joardar, AIG (planning and research) took a two-year leave to go abroad to pursue a higher degree with effect from the current month. Mollah Nazrul Islam, deputy commissioner (OSD), Deputy Commissioners Biplob Kumar Sarker and Abdullah Aref, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mehedi Hasan also applied for leave on the same ground, said a source in the police headquarters.
Very popular Deputy Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid also asked for a two-year leave to spend some time with his foreign citizen wife and children. Besides, a DIG of police headquarters and three more deputy commissioners of the capital asked for leave.
Even the Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch of Police Monirul Islam was granted an 11-month leave to complete his higher degree under London Nardambria University. However, as he has taken a lot of flak he has finally withdrawn his application.
Monirul later said he would go abroad in the year of 2014 to get a foreign higher degree.
Besides, officers-in-charge of several police stations including Salauddin Ahmed of Kotowali, Mazahar of Kadamtali, and Moinruzzaman have too submitted leave applications.
Akbar, former R-1 of Rajarbagh Police Line applied for his transfer is now working as operation officer in Savar Police Station who has allegedly been involved in several crimes.
A number of police officials in return for anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that these officials applied for transfer and leave as they were fearing reprisal from the next government.
Even an intelligence report disparaged the submission of such leave applications by police officials. The report said such attitude of high officials would cast a negative impact on police force.
When contacted Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police, said some officials submit applications for earned leave every year to study abroad for higher degree and for others purposes and “there is nothing unnatural about it”.
Some officials applied for a long leave but their applications were turned down given the present situation, he said.
