Bangladesh to recruit 4,000 ASIs ahead of elections, says IGP

Bangladesh Police will recruit 4,000 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) ahead of the upcoming elections, Police Chief IGP Baharul Alam announced on Wednesday. According to him, 50 percent of the positions will be filled through direct recruitment, while the remaining half will be through promotions.

The announcement came after a meeting at the Ministry of Public Administration regarding the recruitment process. IGP Alam stated that recent regulatory adjustments have cleared previous procedural hurdles, making the recruitment process smoother.

“We aim to complete these appointments before the elections. The Chief Adviser has already given policy-level approvals for several forces, and we are now working out the details,” he said.

Public Administration Ministry clarification

The Secretary of Public Administration noted that a delegation including the IGP discussed amendments to existing regulations to facilitate large-scale recruitment. Decisions were also made in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary to expedite ASI appointments.

The Secretary clarified that the move is not a reform but a response to procedural obstacles that previously delayed appointments. Minor changes were made to existing rules to accommodate the upcoming election schedule.

“Police and Ansar forces are at the frontline during elections. We held this meeting to ensure recruitment and training align with electoral timelines,” the Secretary added.

Recruitment and training

More than 4,000 posts have been created, with training already underway at multiple police training centers across the country. Recruitment and training are happening simultaneously in all districts to ensure the force is ready before the election schedule is announced.

When asked about the selection method, the Secretary confirmed that 50 percent will be direct recruitment and 50 percent through promotion, dismissing any suggestion of a lottery system.

On concerns about impartiality during elections, IGP Alam assured that all field officials will operate independently, following the experience of previous elections. The Election Commission will oversee the process once the schedule is officially declared.