The Crime Desk: The police headquarters has stopped the salaries of 187 absconding police personnel since August 5. At the same time, cases are being filed against them at the police station to take other legal measures. The police have even formed a separate team to arrest them. Their official passports are being canceled so that they cannot flee abroad.
After the political upheaval on August 5, many police personnel have not joined work. Although the police headquarters gave them a deadline to join work, 187 police personnel did not join work within the specified time. Sources at the police headquarters say that among the absconding police personnel who did not join work, there are 1 DIG, 7 additional DIGs, 2 police superintendents, 1 additional police superintendent, 5 assistant police superintendents, 5 police inspectors, 14 SIs and sergeants, 9 ASIs, 7 Naiks, and 136 constables. Among the absconding constables, there are two female members.
It is believed that most of the absconding police officers have left the country, and a large part of them are staying in India. Sources say that former Additional Commissioner of DMP Harun Ur Rashid tops the list of absconding police officers, with 38 cases against his name. There are also Additional DIGs Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Prolay Kumar Joardar, Khandaker Nurunnabi, SM Mehedi Hasan, Sanjit Kumar Roy, and Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, against whom multiple cases were filed after August 5.
Police headquarters officials said that action has been taken against these absconding police officers. Departmental cases have already been filed against several of them. Recently, Home Affairs Advisor Lt. Gen. (retd.) Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said in this regard that those who are no longer in the police force are now terrorists. Action will be taken against them under the Terrorism Act.
Police headquarters says that the process of canceling the official passports of absconding and dismissed officers has also been started so that they cannot flee the country. The Passport Department has already sent a letter seeking the names and national identity cards of the concerned officers.
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the media wing of the police headquarters, Enamul Haque Sagar, said that as part of taking action against the absconding police members, salaries and allowances are being stopped first and then cases are being filed.
Regarding the non-payment of salaries, an absconding officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police said that he last received his salary for the month of August. He has not received any salary or allowances since then. The officer also said that he is not working as there is an arrest warrant against him. However, he is still in service after taking leave. Even then, his salary has been stopped.
A DIG-rank officer at the police headquarters, who did not want to be named, said that those who have been temporarily suspended are getting half their salaries and allowances. However, those who are absconding and have not joined any station are not getting anything. Action has been taken against them.
The officer also said that a committee has been formed in the police to arrest the officers who are absconding. The committee is looking after the general diary, cases, salary and allowances against them, and other decisions. This committee has formed a separate team to arrest them. Legal action will continue against them.
Since Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5 amid mass movements and violence, police stations and other police installations have been attacked across the country; many police stations have also been vandalized and looted. According to the police headquarters, 46 police members have been killed in these incidents.
