Five Senior Police Officers Forced Into Retirement

The Government of Bangladesh has ordered the compulsory retirement of five Additional Inspectors General (Additional IGPs) of the national police force, including the head of the country’s river-based law enforcement unit, Bangladesh Naval Police. The move was confirmed through separate government notifications issued on Sunday.

According to official circulars signed by Senior Secretary Monjur Morshed Chowdhury, the decision affects five high-ranking police officers who were serving in various key roles within the force. Among them is Kusum Dewan, who had been serving as chief of the Naval Police since October 2024.

The other officers directed to retire compulsorily are Abu Hasan Muhammad Tariq, Md Abdul Alim Mahmud, Md Masudur Rahman Mia and Md Towfiq Mahbub Chowdhury. The decision has drawn attention within administrative and security circles, as simultaneous retirement orders for multiple officers at this level are relatively uncommon.

Officials familiar with the matter stated that the retirement orders were issued under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018. This provision allows the government to retire public servants from service in the public interest once they meet certain eligibility criteria, including length of service.

At the time the order was issued, two of the officers — Abu Hasan Muhammad Tariq and Md Abdul Alim Mahmud — were serving as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The OSD designation generally means that an officer remains attached to the ministry without holding an active field command.

Meanwhile, Md Masudur Rahman Mia had been serving at the Bangladesh Police Headquarters in Dhaka in a temporary reserve post. Md Towfiq Mahbub Chowdhury was posted in the police training establishment at Bangladesh Police Academy.

Kusum Dewan, who led the Naval Police unit responsible for maintaining law enforcement and security across rivers and coastal waterways, had assumed the role only a few months earlier. The Naval Police play a critical role in protecting river routes, combating smuggling, and ensuring safety across Bangladesh’s extensive inland water transport network.

The official notifications state that the officers will receive all retirement-related benefits in accordance with government regulations. No detailed explanation for the decision has been publicly provided, which is typical for retirement orders issued under the relevant section of the law.

Administrative analysts note that such decisions are usually part of broader organisational adjustments within the police force or the civil service. These adjustments may be aimed at restructuring leadership, creating vacancies for promotions, or realigning the command structure within security institutions.

Officers Placed on Compulsory Retirement

The development marks a notable administrative shift within Bangladesh’s policing hierarchy and may lead to new appointments in several senior positions in the coming weeks.