The Special Branch (SB) of the Bangladesh Police has ordered district offices and various units to prepare a report on the political affiliations of several hundred officers from six different batches appointed to the police force during the Awami League regime.

The Police Headquarters issued a letter to district offices and various units with these instructions on October 20.

An SB officer, who requested anonymity, told TBS that the latter were sought for information about the political affiliations of these officers and their family members, seen by TBS.

The letter directs district superintendents of police to gather information on eight specific matters relating to these officers.

The letter called for re-verification of pre-employment CVs of candidates who had joined the force through 28, 35, 36, 37, 40 and 41 BCS batches.

The reports will be prepared by officers of at least the rank of superintendent, maintaining strict confidentiality, and submitted to the SB Special Superintendent with the requested information about those officers, according to the letter.

In addition to basic details, the letter sought information about the officers concerned, including their Facebook IDs, mobile phone numbers, email addresses and any political affiliations during their time at the college and university.

He also sought the names, addresses and cell phone numbers of at least two friends from his college and university days, along with any possible links to terrorist activities.

The letter further requested comments or opinions from local dignitaries, members of the public, journalists and former classmates from their school and college years for inclusion in the reports.

After the Awami League came to power, the 28th BCS batch was the first to be recruited into the Bangladesh civil service, joining the government service in 2010.

In BCS 35th batch, 114 officers joined as Deputy Superintendents of Police in 2017, followed by 113 in 36th batch in 2018, 97 in 37th batch in 2019, 62 in 40th batch in 20202 and in 4th batch 2024.

Many officers of batch 28 are now serving as Superintendents of Police.

Asked about these directives, a police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said these officers had already been vetted before recruitment and the re-vetting now appears aimed at identifying any Awami League connections.

“People from the police and two other intelligence agencies visited my house for this report,” he added.

He further said, “Being appointed during the Awami League rule does not mean that all the officials were staunch supporters or compromised their professional duties. Now, many non-partisan and apolitical officers are at risk of losing their jobs because of these reports. a form of witch hunting”.