The government on Monday extended the service of the incumbent inspector general of police, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, until July 11, 2024 on a contract basis.
A gazette notification by the public administration ministry stated that his service would be extended for one and a half years 鈥� from January 12, 2023 to July 11, 2024 鈥� postponing his retirement leave and benefits.
Police headquarters officials said that this was the first time an IGP received a contractual extension.
As a result of the extension, several top-ranking police officials said, there is now no possibility to pick the next IGP from the 12th Bangladesh Civil Service police officers, recruited in 1991, but would create opportunities for the 15th BCS police officers, recruited in 1995.
The decision comes ahead of the next parliamentary elections to be held in early January 2024, the officials said.
The home ministry in a September 2022 order confirmed Mamun鈥檚 appointment as the IGP from the month鈥檚 30th day, replacing Benazir Ahmed.
Mamun served the Rapid Action Battalion as its chief between April 15, 2020 and September 29, 2022.
Mamun was born on January 12, 1964 in Shreehail village under Sullah, Sunamganj.
He led the Criminal Investigation Department and served in various important units of the police headquarters and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the Armed Police Battalion.
He also served as the superintendent of police in Nilphamari district.
Mamun worked in the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liberia and Darfur.
Mamun, along with six other serving and former RAB commanders, including previous IGP Benazir, came under sanctions slapped by the US Treasury Department on December 10, 2021 on charges of serious human rights abuses.