Ali Hossain Fakir may be removed as IGP

Discussion have been started in the high-level of the government over replacing Md. Ali Hossain Fakir as the Inspector General of Police after his recent controversial speech over “crossfire”.

Government’s high-ups are mulling names of four senior officials from the 15thh BCS batch.

Ali Hossain Fakir also from in this batch.

Prime Minister’s office has already sought the documents of personal and professional information of the four officials.

Several sources involved in the issue confirmed the matter.

These four officials are- the head of Armed Police Battalion (APBN), Additional IGP Hasib Aziz, head of Crime Investigation Department (CID), Additional IGP Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, and the Director General of Special Response Battalion (SRB) Additional IGP Md. Ahsan Habib Palash and DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed.

The first three officials were deprived from getting promotion during the previous Awami League era while Mosleh Uddin has in consideration due to his professionalism, sources said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman due to return home on Thursday (29 October). The issue of IGP replacing IGP is depend on the prime minister, sources said.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Monday (26 October) said police might resort to crossfire if the government allows it and it becomes necessary to maintain law and order and curb crimes.

“When the police act tough, they are called fascist police and when they remain silent they are called weak police,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the formal inauguration of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC’s Islamic banking service, ‘Community Islamic’, at Chawkbazar of the capital.

“If the government permits and it becomes necessary to maintain law and order and suppress crimes, we will not hesitate to resort to crossfire,” the IGP said.

He said police are working under a zero-tolerance policy to prevent the spread of drugs.

Stressing that attempts to render the police ineffective would not be tolerated, he said maintaining social order would be difficult if the police are repeatedly targeted or obstructed from performing their duties.

He said police officers found involved in criminal activities are not being spared, adding that the force has its own system of checks and balances.

The IGP called for greater empowerment of the police, saying restoring peace in society would not be possible without allowing law enforcement agencies to enforce the law.

The IGP’s speech over his eagerness of restoring crossfire drew huge criticism across the country.

Transparency International Bangladesh chapter, has called the government to remove Ali Hossain Fakir from his post IGP.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the IGP’s such speech made the government embraced.

BNP acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s political adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also criticized the IGP’s speech and said it made the government embraced.