Monirul Islam new chief of police’s special branch

The government has appointed Monirul Islam, the chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, to lead the Special Branch of police.

With the new assignment, Monirul, also the additional commissioner of DMP, has been made an additional inspector general of police (current charge), according to a home ministry gadget notification issued yesterday.

Monirul replaced the SB's additional IGP Mir Shahidul Islam, who went on retirement yesterday after leading the unit for more than two years.

According to insiders, though more then 10 additional IGP (full fledged) exist in the force now, Monirul was appointed additional IGP (current charge) for his competence.

Being an officer of the 15th batch of BCS, Monirul earlier was promoted to the post of deputy inspector general on February 15, 2016 and additional deputy inspector general on April 7 of 2015.

On leaving CTTC, Monirul said he started working for the unit in February 2016 and worked for five years there. SB and CTTC both work on intel and they also have similarities in their work, he said while addressing reporters at DMP headquarters.

He thanked the government for the new appointment.

In reply to a query whether CTTC will be affected from his transfer, Monirul said they mainly conduct intel-based operation after the Holey Artisan café attack.

"We have successes in combating militancy and destroying their networks," he said. "But these successes are not mine alone. It belongs to all my team members, who worked here and the officials of Bangladesh Police," said Monirul.

"I do not think work of CTTC will be hindered due to my departure," he said.

He said alongside successes and they also had some failures. "I am responsible for the unit's failures," he added.