IGP Directs Police: No Ministerial Lobbying

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Bangladesh, Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, has issued a strict directive prohibiting police officers from leaving their official workplaces without prior permission to lobby at government ministries. The order comes in response to repeated instances where some officers have bypassed protocol, causing embarrassment to senior ministry officials and undermining the reputation of the police force, while also disrupting routine government operations.

The circular, issued on Monday from the Police Headquarters under the IGP’s signature, notes that “certain members of the Bangladesh Police have been leaving their offices during working hours without authorisation to seek favours or advancement at various ministries. This matter has recently come to the attention of senior authorities.”

The directive stresses that such lobbying not only tarnishes the image of the police but also hampers the smooth execution of daily governmental functions. While previous instructions and a memorandum from the Ministry of Home Affairs had already alerted all police units and district police superintendents, the recurrence of these incidents prompted this renewed warning.

Key Guidelines from the IGP’s Directive

Assistant IGP A.H.M. Shahadat Hossain, spokesperson for the Police Headquarters, explained that leaving an office without authorisation to engage with government departments is contrary to administrative discipline. “The circular serves as a reminder to adhere strictly to prescribed rules and obtain prior approval for any such movements,” he told our representative.

Sources within the police indicate that some officers, motivated by political affiliations from their student days, have regularly lobbied ministries to secure promotions or transfers. A recent case involved the temporary suspension of a former commissioner of a metropolitan police unit near Dhaka due to allegations of irregularities. On 14 September, Enayet Karim Chowdhury, alias Masud Karim (55), reportedly an agent of a foreign intelligence agency, was arrested in the Minto Road area of Dhaka. Notably, the former commissioner’s bodyguard was present in the vehicle from which Karim was apprehended.

Following the formation of a new BNP-led government, the former commissioner reportedly attempted to lobby for appointment as Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Although the Police Headquarters recommended reinstatement, the Ministry of Home Affairs returned the recommendation, underscoring the need for adherence to formal procedures rather than personal lobbying.

This directive highlights the IGP’s emphasis on maintaining professional integrity, ensuring administrative discipline, and protecting the credibility of the police force by discouraging unauthorised ministerial lobbying.