Bangladesh Police Practice SI Job Loss 2024 | 252 IFs in practice at the Sarda Police Academy are discharged for “discipline failure”

Around 252 trainee sub-inspectors (SIs) of the 40th batch of overseas cadets lost their jobs just a month before they graduated from the Sarda Police Academy in Rajshahi.

The director of the academy sent discharge letters to the home addresses of the students yesterday morning, three senior officials from both the academy and the Police Prefecture confirmed.

The official reason given for his discharge was a lack of discipline.

On Friday, students were sent on a three-day vacation. However, sources indicate that in addition to the disciplinary issues, the Police Prefecture, in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior, conducted a background check on the political affiliations of 801 SI trainees in the batch. This investigation, conducted by an intelligence agency, was conducted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

“According to the agency’s reports, a list of 252 SIs was sent to the director of the Sarda Police Academy for action about 20 days ago,” said an official who sought anonymity.

On October 8, the police academy administration issued a show cause letter to the 252 SI trainees, asking them to explain why they should not be discharged from the training program for violating the discipline

The Daily Star obtained a copy of one such letter, which detailed the incident. According to the letter, during a break in a practice session for the closing parade of the 40th batch of BCS (Police) Probationers on October 1, breakfast was served to all students as per a predetermined menu .

“You (IS) did not have breakfast. You shouted and created a chaotic atmosphere in the weapons yard. You organized other IS cadets in training and showed extreme disorder and insolence, humiliating the academy authorities .Also, you left the training ground for your barracks without permission,” the letter says.

As an SI in training, this behavior is considered a serious breach of discipline, which disrupted the overall training program and also encourages others to follow suit.

The letter also directed SIs to provide an explanation to their authorities within three days as to why they should not be discharged from ongoing basic training under Rule 741-iii sub-rule b(iii) of the Bengal Police Regulations, 1943 in view of these activities.

An official further disclosed that during the practice session, 66 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and 400 SIs were present. The ASPs added sweets to their breakfast at their own expense, which reportedly caused dissatisfaction among the SIs.