The interim government is re-verifying the background of 100 individuals who passed the 41st Bangladesh Civil Service examinations and were recommended for police cadre jobs.

The second verification process will be conducted to reexamine the candidates' political affiliations and whether they have links to militancy, according to police officers with knowledge of the development.

The reassessment will determine whether these individuals would be recruited.

These candidates' backgrounds had already been checked in a process known as "police verification". Following that, Bangladesh Public Service Commission recommended that they be recruited as police officers. 

They have been waiting for a year-long basic training at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi.

The interim government has recently been facing criticisms for abruptly postponing a passing-out parade for 62 assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) just before the ceremony was about to begin on October 19.

On October 20, the Special Branch (SB) of Police took the initiative to reverify 100 candidates' backgrounds on orders from the Police Headquarters (PHQ).

The SB is also examining the background of seven other candidates of the 28th, 35th, 36th, and 37th BCS batches. The previous administration let them go, and the interim government reappointed them.

The reverification will also be done for 62 ASPs recruited through the 40th BCS.

The Daily Star has seen a copy of the order.

SB's verification wing will investigate their political affiliations and look into their records at schools, colleges, universities, dormitories, and whether they had links to militant organisations, according to the sources.

The report must include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two friends from each candidate or officer's college or university.

The order states that evaluation reports about the candidates should be collected from people like journalists, public representatives, and police stations.

Information about their birthday, NID number, mobile number, email, Facebook ID, taxpayer identification number, passport number, names of their parents and their professions should also be collected, the sources said.

The verification process should be conducted by an officer not below the rank of ASP.

The order further states that the SB should complete the process at the earliest possible time.

Asked about the matter, Kamrul Hasan Mahmud, special superintendent (verification) of SB, said, "We're doing the verification as part of a regular process and at the directive of higher authorities. There is no specific reason behind it."

The preliminary test of the 41st BCS was held in March 2021 and the written tests in November-December that year. The viva-voce concluded in June last year. The PSC recommended 2,520 candidates for jobs in different cadres in August this year.

Of the successful candidates, 323 were recommended for administration, 100 for police, 25 for foreign services, 230 for agriculture, 88 for education, 36 for forest department, 76 for livestock, 38 for information, 60 for taxes and 465 for other cadres. Under BCS health, 108 were recommended to be assistant surgeons and 171 dentists.

The role of the police during the mass uprising that led to the fall of the government faced intense scrutiny. The force faced public outrage as officers used excessive force to suppress the protests. Many police personnel opened fire on protesters, killing hundreds and maiming many others.

Many members of the force could not escape public wrath: protesters killed 44 policemen, burnt down 224 police facilities, and vandalised 236.

In the 15 years of Awami League rule, many police officers acted as though they were activists of the party to get desired posts and promotions. They used excessive force on opposition and dissenters.

After the fall of the government in early August, many police personnel went on strike, demanding an independent commission to run the force. They also demanded that police should not be controlled by the ruling party.

Regarding the reverification of 62 ASPs, a top officer said the background check would determine if they have any political affiliations with the AL.

"Decisions regarding the officials will be made after the verification. In the meantime, they will continue their training," the official said, requesting anonymity.

The 62 ASPs were recruited through the 38th and 40th BCS (held in 2017 and 2023) and were set to begin their probationary postings on October 20. But a day before the parade was scheduled to begin, it was postponed.

The decision of reverification of these ASPs came apparently after Salauddin Ammar, a coordinator of the student movement against discrimination at Rajshahi University, alleged that the officers had affiliations with the AL.

In a recent Facebook post, he said the 62 ASPs were recruited during the AL regime and asked whether they were "investigated".

The interim government on October 21 discharged 252 trainee sub-inspectors (SIs) of the 40th Outside Cadet batch, who were receiving basic training in Sardah, on allegations of breaching discipline.

They were discharged only 10 days before their graduation.