Several hundred of sacked police members, who were dismissed from their jobs during the Awami League regime, ousted in August 2024, staged a demonstration in front of the High Court on Sunday demanding the reinstatement of their jobs.
They began their protest at about 9:00am and withdrew it about seven hours later after a six-member representative team of the protesting police members had met with the home secretary, Nasimul Gani.
They alleged that around 2,200 police constables and officers were sacked on different allegations, including family issues, remaining absent from duties, Facebook posts against the AL government and conflicts with AL leaders and activists.
Md Nadim Mahmud Nahid, a sacked constable, and also a coordinator of the sacked police members鈥� movement, said that they withdrew the protest at about 4:30pm as the home secretary assured them of reviewing their applications filed with the Police Headquarters within two days.
Nadim said that he joined the force on May 7, 2017, and was sacked from the force on December 14, 2023, on allegations of seeking dowry from his wife.
鈥楳y wife eloped with another person and got married. Though I paid the amount mentioned in our marriage contract, I was sacked from the force on the false allegation of taking dowry,鈥� Nadim claimed.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Division deputy commissioner Masud Alam said that he arranged a meeting between the home ministry and the six representatives from the agitating police members.
Saiful Alam, a sacked assistant sub-inspector, said, 鈥業 joined the force in 2003. I was blacklisted as I defied high officials鈥� order to stuff ballot boxes during the general election in 2018.鈥�
He said that they conducted a dope test in 2019 but he tested negative for drugs at Rajarbagh Police Hospital.
鈥楾he authorities again conducted the test in 2020, and I tested positive this time as they manipulated the test results,鈥� he claimed.
鈥楢s per the police rules, authorities can sack someone from the force if they test positive for dope test three times. They were supposed to test me two more times, but they fired me after the first test.鈥�
On Friday, the PHQ in a statement urged the police members sacked during the Awami League regime for various reasons not to create public sufferings blocking roads for pressing home their demand for job reinstatement.
The PHQ statement said that it had already received 1,522 applications from sacked police officers.
Of the applicants, 1,025 are constables, 79 are nayeks, 180 are assistant sub-inspectors and assistant town sub-inspectors, 200 are sub-inspectors and sergeants, 10 are inspectors and 28 are non-police officers, the statement added.
