PHQ revamps recruitment process

With a view to making the recruitment of constables transparent and free of corruption, the Police Headquarters has overhauled the recruitment procedure ahead of hiring 5,000 individuals in the posts in 64 districts.

The new process would allow the PHQ to directly evaluate the written test of the candidates.

The PHQ has changed the weights of the written and viva marks and put in place a more rigorous assessment of candidates before a shortlist is prepared.

The move came following widespread allegations of rampant bribery and corruption in recruitments in recent years.

Superintendents of police in districts recruit constables as per the existing rules. There are allegations that in most cases, constables are recruited from the lists of names provided by political leaders and influential people, several SPs told The Daily Star.

Political leaders and those who lobbied for recruitment of their candidate allegedly took hefty amounts in bribes from aspiring candidates. Besides, dishonest SPs also allegedly take bribes during recruitment.

To bring such alleged malpractice to a halt, Police Headquarters (PHQ) for the first time will evaluate the written exam sheets of the candidates instead of district SPs, said PHQ officials.

Only a certain number of qualified candidates from a merit list -- which will be made using software on the basis of their SSC GPA, minimum required educational qualifications for the post, height and endurance test results -- will be called for the written examination.

There will be a written test of 45 marks and a viva-voce of 15 which will be taken by a committee headed by SPs. Earlier, the written test and viva were worth 40 and 20 marks respectively. Officers with good reputation from the PHQ will also be present during the viva.

The required height for female constable aspirants has been made 5 feet 4 inches from the earlier 5 feet 2 inches while the required height for male constable aspirants remains 5 feet 6 inches.

Before the shortlist is prepared, the district police administration will send reports to the PHQ after physically checking whether the height declared on the online application is authentic, taking endurance tests and a short viva to assess the candidate's "smartness".

In the endurance test, male and female constable candidates will have to run 200 metres in 28 seconds and 34 seconds respectively, to qualify. Earlier, male and female constables had to run 1,600 metres in 6.5 minutes and 8.5 minutes respectively.

"This system will definitely reduce the chances of corruption and bribery to a great extent as short-listed and fit candidates will qualify for the written test and their exam sheets will be evaluated by officers in the PHQ," said a PHQ official, requesting anonymity.

Senior officials led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed have already held several meetings on the recruitment of the constables.

The IGP warned of severe punishment if any member of the force is found involved in any irregularities and corruption in this recruitment, said a PHQ official. Before recruitment, the constables will also face a dope test.

An official at the concerned section of the PHQ said they are trying their best to issue the recruitment circular within this month. Asked how many constables will be recruited, he said there are now around 4,300 vacant posts. Another 600 posts may fall vacant in the next few months, so the number will be around 5,000, he added.

The PHQ will form a high-powered committee which will supervise the entire recruitment process. Police Internal Oversight, the counter intelligence unit of the force, will be on alert and even the cellphones of the SPs and those involved with the recruitment will be under surveillance, the officer said, requesting anonymity.

A candidate will be deemed unfit if anyone lobbies for him or her, the official added.

The last recruitment of 9,680 constables in 2019 during the tenure of immediate past IGP Mohammad Jabed Patwari was largely fair, barring some irregularities, for which the Anti-Corruption Commission praised him.

Over 100 policemen, from constables to additional superintendents, were relieved of duties by the PHQ on charges of taking bribes from people seeking constable jobs in the last round of recruitment in 2019. Before that, there had been various irregularities in the recruitment of constables for a long time.

Mohd Mahfuzur Rahman Al-Mamun, assistant inspector general (recruitment and career planning-1) at the PHQ, said, "Recruitment in the force is being modernised, alongside ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness."

Total members in the force now number over 2.13 lakh, including around 1.30 lakh constables. One policeman is providing security to 751 people, PHQ officials said.