The government has suspended 18 senior police officers on charges of “desertion,” according to an order issued yesterday by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Among those affected is Harun (also known as Rashid), the former head of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch, a high-profile posting within the force.

The order cited multiple instances in 2024 and 2025 when the officers were reportedly absent from duty without prior permission from the relevant authorities. Such conduct falls under the “desertion” category as defined by the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Those suspended include senior officials from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, various range DIG offices, the Armed Police Battalion, police training institutions, and other specialised units.

Notable names on the list include Sanjit Kumar Ray, joint commissioner of DMP; Rifat Rahman Shamim, former joint commissioner of DMP and currently additional DIG at the Chattogram range DIG office; and Kazi Ashraful Azim, police superintendent at the Chattogram range DIG office and former deputy commissioner of DMP.