How to become a police officer

We frequently encounter articles wherein authors provide guidance on pursuing traditional disciplines such as engineering, medicine, law, and business, among others. Law enforcement is not commonly considered in the same context as the aforementioned fields. However, if you have an interest in joining the highly competitive field of law enforcement, this article may be of value to you.

There are four entry-level positions available for the interested applicants. To become a constable, the applicant must have completed SSC or an equivalent degree. All Constables are hired directly. The Sergeant is a mid-level entry position, and the Sub Inspector (SI) is Bangladesh Police's non-cadre mid-level entry rank. The applicant must complete graduation from government enlisted university or have an equivalent degree for both of the positions.

The Bangladesh Police's highest entry-level position or rank is Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Two-thirds of the total ASP positions are filled directly, and the other one-third are filled through the promotion of Inspectors. The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) manages the direct hiring process for ASP. Applicants must be a graduate or possess a degree that takes four years or its equivalent.

It is easy to gather that you must pass the competitive BCS examination to be an ASP. The BCS examination consists of three phases. The first phase is the preliminary examination, typically conducted in May or June each year, with notifications released about one month prior and results published approximately one month after the exam. The second phase comprises the written examination, the primary test, generally held in November or December annually. Notifications are issued about one month before the exam, and results are typically published six to 10 months after the examination. The third phase involves the Viva Voce, an oral test conducted following the publication of the written results.

Sitting for the BCS is a daunting prospect for many graduates, given its highly competitive nature and improbable acceptance rates. We spoke to Md. Rubel Haque, Assistant Police Commissioner (36th BCS), Rajshahi Metropolitan Police about the difficulty in overcoming this challenge to chase the dream of becoming a police officer.

Photo: Pahn Chakma

"During preparation, a candidate needs to be highly motivated. He/she needs to be full of confidence, patriotism and keep things in perspective because this is the most competitive national level career exam," he said.

The BCS police cadre holds a prominent position among job seekers, with some ranking it as their top preference, while others place it in second or third place. Progressing within this cadre offers opportunities for advancement, leading to positions such as Additional Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, Additional Deputy Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, Additional Inspector General, and Inspector General. If assigned to a metropolitan area, the designation will be Assistant Commissioner of Police. Subsequently, promotions follow a structured progression, leading to positions such as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Joint Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, and finally, Commissioner of Police.

An ASP from the police cadre must work for the Ministry of Home Affairs' Public Security Division. The cadre is then transferred from the ministry to the Bangladesh Police Headquarters on the same day. After completing the foundational and fundamental training, an apprentice ASP is exposed to all activities first-hand for a total of six months. This time is split between two months at one district police station, one month in the circle, and various intervals at other district police offices. After that, they were assigned to various police departments and branches, including the Detective Branch (DB), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and others.

To realise this dream of serving one's country by working in law enforcement, a lot of hard work and perseverance is needed. According to Senior Md. Rubel Haque, there is plenty to be inspired by, "The dream of a police officer is to be given the responsibility for protecting and serving their communities, helping people in times of need, fighting crime, etc. It is the most demanding career in Bangladesh. The goal is to dedicate oneself to supporting the criminal justice system to ensure justice. A quality police officer genuinely just wants to help people."

Azra Humayra is currently majoring in Journalism in the University of Dhaka.