The government has suspended four more police officers for being absent from duty without approved leave.

Ministry of Home Affairs has issued separate notification in this regard on Sunday (July 13).

The orders were signed by Senior Secretary Nasimul Ghani.

The officials suspended are Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon Division Md Rowshanul Haque Saikat, Additional Superintendent of Industrial Police Md Towhidul Islam, Assistant Commissioner of DMP Md Golam Ruhani, and Assistant Commissioner of DMP’s Traffic Mirpur Zone Mofizur Rahman Palash.

According to the notifications, issued under sections 2(b) and 2(ch) of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2018, their unauthorised absence was categorised as misconduct and an offence equivalent to desertion. The suspensions are effective from the first day of their absence.

Following the regime change, a number of police officers have been suspended. Earlier, 17 police officials were suspended for similar reasons. With Sunday’s orders, the total number of suspended officers has risen to 21.

Among those suspended, Assistant Commissioner Md Golam Ruhani is known to be the younger brother of former Bangladesh Chhatra League General Secretary Golam Rabbani. According to the notification, he has been absent from duty since 11 August 2024 without permission from the authorities.