Dhaka, Nov 26 (V7N) – In preparation for the upcoming national parliamentary elections, the Bangladesh Police have initiated a widespread reshuffle of field administration, introducing new appointments at four key levels: Range DIG, Metropolitan Commissioner, Police Superintendent (SP), and Officer-in-Charge (OC). For the first time, lottery-based selection will be used for OC postings, following the same method already applied for SP positions.

Police sources revealed that on Monday night, a lottery was held at the Chief Adviser’s residence in Jamuna to finalize SP appointments in 64 districts. Notifications for these postings are expected within the next few days. Approximately one-quarter of the selected SPs are new faces, while the remaining officers are transfers from other districts.

During a press briefing Tuesday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul confirmed the SP lottery results and said official postings will be issued shortly. The Ministry of Home Affairs indicated that the notifications could be released today or tomorrow.

According to police sources, OC postings for 666 police stations nationwide will also be determined through a lottery system. Eligible officers, deemed competent and impartial, have been shortlisted by unit heads and vetted by district SPs and Metropolitan Commissioners. OC appointments will be finalized only after SP, Commissioner, and Range DIG positions are settled.

To streamline election-time management, the 64 districts have been divided into three categories (A, B, and C), with major urban and strategic areas such as Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barishal, Jessore, Mymensingh, Tangail, and Dinajpur placed in Category A.

The selection process involved evaluating current SPs’ performance and creating a pool of eligible officers from other units. During the elections, most SPs will be from BCS 25 batch, with some from the 27 batch. Transfers via lottery aim to balance experience and ensure fairness.

Police officials noted mixed reactions within the force. Some fear that less experienced officers could be assigned to sensitive districts, while highly competent officers may be posted to less critical areas. Others argue that the lottery prevents favoritism and ensures transparency.

The Police Reform Commission had recommended prioritizing integrity and efficiency in postings, transfers, and promotions of SPs and OCs to strengthen field administration during elections.

END/RKB/SMA/