Bribery in Constable Recruitment: Over 100 cops stand released

Over 100 policemen, from constables to additional superintendents, have been stand released by the Police Headquarters (PHQ) on charge of taking bribes from people seeking jobs of constable.

 The actions were taken in the last couple of weeks during the recruitment of 9,680 constables, which was held from June 22 in all districts.

Of those stand released -- meaning those who are withdrawn immediately and bound to go to their new postings -- one is an ASP and 90 are constables who work as drivers, body guards or staffers at different SP offices, said an official at the Police Headquarters recently.

Besides, at least 39 people -- including “brokers” and fraudsters -- and a police sub-inspector were made accused in 18 cases filed for adopting unfair means and being involved in bribery in constable recruitment in 18 districts, according to PHQ statistics.

The actions taken resulted in a fair recruitment process in many districts, police sources said.

In Kurigram, on allegation of taking Tk 23 lakh bribe, the district ASP Ripon Kumar Modok has been transferred to Khagrachhari while Sub-inspector Abu Taleb was transferred to Barishal.

Kurigram SP Mohibul Islam Khan has taken the initiative to recover the money from Ripon and return it to the aspirant who paid.

Accountant at the office of district Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdul Mannan, upper division assistant Chhakmal Hossain and Assistant Sub-Inspector at Rangpur Ruhul have also been suspended over such allegations.

Ruhul was arrested after he allegedly took a Tk 10 lakh bribe.

Driver at the SP office Saidur Rahman Sayem and a staffer of the ration store Anisur Rahman have been withdrawn to the office of Rangpur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG).

Officials at the PHQ said punitive action would be taken against the police members involved in illegal monetary transaction after further investigation.

While the normal procedure is that an aspirant will get a government job after successfully completing all tests, couple of years back there were widespread allegations that a police constable aspirant had to bribe Tk 12 lakh to 15 lakh to get a job.

A strict surveillance and supervision by the PHQ has managed to stop the unscrupulous practice as many recruits from different districts this year said they got the constable job by just spending the Tk 103 required for postal order and examination fees.

The PHQ earlier warned of legal action and cancellation of appointment in case any kind of monetary exchange or unfair means used for the recruitment of constables.

To make the recruitment process transparent and fair, the PHQ also sent a SP ranked and an ASP ranked official to all districts to ensure cent percent fair written examinations.

On June 30, all SPs and range DIGs were called to the PHQ and warned of action if any allegations were found true against any police officials or members at the district level.

A team from the PHQ also worked to gather intelligence about the recruitment.

As part of the move, all staffers of a district office of reserve officer were sent on forced leave as the reserve officers (ROs) were found involved in illegal monetary exchange, said the official at the PHQ wishing anonymity.

The source did not reveal the name of the district.

Besides, those who have long been serving as ROs at the same office were transferred, he added.

As per the existing rules, the SPs recruit constables in their districts. But in most cases, they were recruited earlier from the lists of names provided by political leaders, said a number of SPs.

There were also allegations that political leaders, and in some cases dishonest SPs and other policemen and staffers, take hefty bribes from aspiring candidates, sources said.

Meanwhile, political leaders continue to push for their favourites to be given the job.

Jhalakathi-2 lawmaker BH Haroon sent a letter recently to the district SP recommending names of his 11 supporters from Rajapur and Kathalia upazilas for recruitment as constables.

Though the district SP Fatiha Yeasmin said she did not get any such letter, a copy of the letter was circulated in different media.

“I didn’t get any letter from anyone for recruiting police constables and even have not seen the letter on any social media,” she said.

None from the list got the posting according to Awami League and Jubo League leaders of both Rajapur and Kathalia upazila unit.

This reporter also checked the names of those recruited against those recommended but could not find any matches.

Contacted, the lawmaker admitted sending the letter. “I do not find anything wrong in sending such a recommendation letter as I did not get any financial gain from the jobseekers. I just wanted to help those locals who came to me,” Haroon said.

Meanwhile, those who secured the job without having to pay large bribes expressed happiness.

“I did not dream of getting the job as my family has no ability to spend huge amount of money,” said new recruit Mithila Mim in Jamalpur.

“I am excited as I got a job after successfully passing the tests held in a transparent manner.”

Jamalpur SP Delwar Hossain said the district police administration has pledged to hold a fair and transparent recruitment as per the PHQ directive.

In Khulna, new recruit Abul Hasan could not hold back tears after being selected.

“I was abandoned by my parents three days after my birth. I was given shelter in my grandfather’s house, but that was a bad experience. I was put into an orphanage in Tetulia of Koyra upazila at the age of four where I studied with the help of locals,” he said.

He said he left the madrasa in 2015 and did different jobs -- security guard, hotel boy, van puller, waste collectors -- to survive.