230 SPs not assigned duties in a year since promotion
Nearly a year back, 230 police officials got “in-situ promotion” as superintendent of police (SP) from their posts of additional superintendents, but they have not taken charge of office yet, as no posts are vacant in the force.
An “in-situ” official is someone who continues to hold the same office and perform the same duties even after being elevated to a higher position.
As a result, these officials are still performing their duties as additional SPs, which has been demoralising for them, according to officials of Police Headquarters (PHQ).
However, these 230 officials have been enjoying all financial benefits of an SP since their in-situ promotion.
Aiming to resolve the crisis, PHQ recently proposed to create 230 new SP posts in the force after abolishing the same number of additional SP posts from the organogram.
The posts for the SPs were proposed to be created in different police units like PHQ, criminal investigation department (CID) and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), according to officials.
“In these units, where a single SP is now taking care of a section or division, the work will be distributed among several SPs,” said a high official of PHQ, requesting anonymity.
However, there will be no change in unique posts, like in 64 districts, the officer added.
The decision came at a meeting held at PHQ on August 25. All police unit chiefs attended the meeting, chaired by Additional Inspector General (admin and operation) Moinur Rahman Chowdhury, according to PHQ sources.
The proposal was sent to the home ministry in mid-September, and is now awaiting a meeting for approval.
Currently, there are 3,102 first-class BCS cadre officers in the police department. Of them, 1,376 are assistant superintendent of police (ASP), 1154 additional SPs, 367 SPs, 105 additional deputy inspector generals (DIG), 67 DIGs, 15 additional inspectors general (grade-II), two additional inspectors general (grade-I) and an inspector general.
Once the proposal is approved, there would be 597 posts for SPs but number of additional SP will be 924, according to the proposal sent to the home ministry.
SM Aktaruzzaman, additional deputy inspector general (O&M) of PHQ, told The Daily Star, “We had to take the decision to abolish additional superintendent posts and increase SP posts, as there was too much of a post shortage in the department’s top tier.”
The government will not need any additional budget to increase the posts, as 230 officials are already getting the financial benefits of SP, said the official.
If new posts in the top tier are not created, then BCS cadre officials will not get their desired promotion to higher rank due to shortage of posts, which would be a hindrance to their professional advancement, he added.
BACKDROP
On July 4 last year, PHQ sent a proposal to the home ministry to give in-situ promotions to 495 police officials, stating that “competent officials” have been serving in the same positions for a long time, as suitable posts were not created at the upper level of police.
The ministry gave in-situ promotions to 230 additional SPs to SPs on November 7 last year.
An officer, who joined police cadre in 1991 through the 12th BCS but is still working as an additional DIG, said if the proposal is approved by the government, it will definitely work as an encouragement for officers.
Service will be improved and crime rate will also come down, as several SPs will divide the work among them, which is now being taken care by one SP, added the officer.
PROMOTION POLICY MUST BE FOLLOWED: OFFICIALS
The increase of new posts in the department’s top tier may create opportunities for BCS cadre officers for higher promotions, but the promotion policy also needs to be followed strictly to ensure discipline in the force, said several senior police officials.
An officer, who joined police in 1995 through the 15th BCS, told The Daily Star recently that he got promoted to the post of SP in 2005, and has been stuck in the post for the last 14 years.
“My juniors have already been promoted to senior ranks, which is embarrassing. I think the government also needs to look into it, along with increasing posts,” the officer added, requesting not to be named.
“If the promotion policy is followed strictly, and made free of political influence, then the discipline and enthusiasm will be at no shortage in the force,” said another officer of the batch.
LONG WAY TO GO
According to officials of PHQ, the government in the last two tenures increased 82,000 manpower in the police force. During the period, the post of top tier officials only increased four times but it was supposed to increase 16 times, they said.
A person who is joining service in admin cadre getting the promotion smoothly rather then a person, who join in police cadre, said an official of PHQ.
“Police needs at least 967 posts for SP, 394 posts for DIG, 293 posts for additional IGP (grade-II) and 46 posts for additional IGP (grade-I) to ensure smooth promotions in the force,” said a high official of PHQ, requesting anonymity.
Under the present situation, a BCS police cadre only has 1.5 percent chance to get promotion up to grade-I or grade-II posts, the officer added.
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