Bangladesh police officers fear punishment over past postings as government reshapes force, report says

Forced retirements, repeated transfers, and unresolved promotion disputes are fueling uncertainty inside Bangladesh’s police force as officers face pressure to improve law and order, The Daily Star reported.

Since the 2024 July uprising, 1,490 police personnel have been named in cases over firing on protesters. Separately, 141 officers have been forced into retirement, 142 made officers on special duty or attached elsewhere, and 93 suspended over allegations of desertion, according to Police Headquarters data cited by the newspaper.

At least 67 officers were forced into retirement during the first five months of the current government.

Some serving officers told The Daily Star they fear that previous postings or perceived political associations could expose them to punishment, even when individual wrongdoing has not been established.

Additional inspector general Khandoker Rafiqul Islam rejected claims of arbitrary action.

“We do not take action against anyone without properly verifying the information that appears in the media or elsewhere,” he said.

Frequent transfers have added to concerns, with officers saying district police chiefs need time to understand local crime patterns and develop intelligence networks.

Former inspector general Ashraful Huda said disruption was unavoidable during a major transition but warned against penalizing innocent officers.

“There is no reason to panic. You will see that things will gradually settle down,” he said.