Recruitment of 10,000 cops postponed

The Police Headquarters (PHQ) has postponed the recruitment of 10,000 police constables until further notice.

The PHQ issued an order in this regard on Sunday, two days before the scheduled beginning of the process.

Although the order said the recruitment was postponed due to unavoidable reasons, sources in the police and the Awami League said the decision was made in line with instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The postponement came amid criticism of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader over the politicians' interference in the process.

Addressing a programme in Chittagong on Sunday, he said his party didn't need those leaders who took bribes for recruitment of police, sweepers and night guards.

“Awami League doesn't need a leader who takes money from the poor people in the name of appointing police constables. Sheikh Hasina doesn't need the leaders who take money from the people for jobs of night guards at primary schools,” he told party leaders and activists.

At another programme organised on the occasion of Police Week in the city on Saturday, Quader said political interference in the recruitment of police has been an obstacle to enhancing the force's efficiency.

Pointing to “shares” of politicians in recruitment, he questioned how the police would improve its efficiency if this continued.

The police on December 22 published a circular to recruit 8,500 male and 1,500 female constables. The recruitment process was scheduled to end on February 1.

Political leaders allegedly take hefty sums of money in bribes from aspiring candidates. In some cases, dishonest superintendents of police (SPs) also allegedly take bribes for recruiting constables, allowing inefficient people into the force.

The job of a constable could be secured for Tk 6-8 lakh and that of an SI for Tk-15 lakh, some newly recruited police officials, constables and family members told this correspondent recently.

“It is said that recruitment in the police's lower tiers is almost impossible without bribes. There is an understanding between politicians and police in this regard,” said a mid-level AL leader, asking not to be named.

He, however, said not all recruitment was done taking bribes.

A private television channel recently aired investigative reports on how corruption was being committed in the recruitment of constables in different districts.

Meanwhile, the PHQ is planning to conduct the constable recruitment process centrally instead of by the SPs.

According to the plan, representatives from the Police Headquarters would visit districts for the recruitment, said a police official.