He has replaced Mohammad Hadis Uddin, who was transferred to the establishment ministry after serving out a brief term on Thursday.

After serving the force in various capacities, Quayum became the 24th IGP of the country, the first police chief from the cadre service.

After joining the Bangladesh Civil Service (police) in 1973, he served as the superintendent of police of Noakhali, Rajshahi, Naogaon and Sylhet.

He also served as an additional commissioner and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), deputy police commissioner in the headquarters and detective branch, deputy inspector general (headquarters) and principal of Sardah Police Academy.

He was lastly serving as the SB chief as an additional IGP.

Born in Pakhimara village in Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur in 1948, he obtained honours and master's degrees in economics from Dhaka University in 1968 and 1969.

Quayum received training from Bramsil Staff College in the United Kingdom.

Earlier on April 7, the government in a dramatic reversal appointed Additional Inspector General of Police Hadis Uddin as the new IGP. The government had then bypassed its earlier decision to appoint Quayum the police chief after the tenure of Ashraful Huda ended.

The government had originally planned to appoint Hadis, who is in its good books, as a secretary, sources said.

But it shelved the move following objections by the establishment ministry, who said the additional IGP is equivalent in status to a joint secretary, the sources added.

They said Hadis was made IGP, which is equivalent to an additional secretary, to clear way for making him a secretary.