The interim government has completed the appointment process for Superintendents of Police (SPs) in all 64 districts using a lottery system, ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections.
The lottery was conducted on Monday at the residence of the Chief Adviser, Jamuna, in the presence of Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali, senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and representatives from the Chief Adviser’s office.
According to officials from Police Headquarters and the Home Ministry, only officers from the 25th, 27th, and 28th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) police batches were considered for the appointments. Officers who had previously served as SPs were excluded from the selection. From this vetted pool, 64 officers were chosen through the lottery, with their postings to take effect following government approval.
Authorities explained that the lottery-based selection method was adopted to ensure transparency in the appointment process and to prevent potential controversies related to policing during the election period.
An official order formalizing the SP appointments is expected to be issued by the Home Ministry imminently, according to senior officials.
In addition, reshuffles for Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and police station Officers-in-Charge (OCs) are also anticipated to follow the same lottery-based approach. Lists of qualified inspectors for these positions have reportedly already been prepared, indicating a broader restructuring of law enforcement leadership in the run-up to the national elections.
This initiative reflects the interim administration’s efforts to maintain impartiality and public confidence in law enforcement management during the electoral process. Officials emphasized that the lottery system is intended to minimize political influence and uphold the operational neutrality of the police across all districts.
The appointments come amid heightened scrutiny of law enforcement activities, as the country prepares for the 13th parliamentary elections. Ensuring an unbiased and professionally managed police force at the district level is considered critical for maintaining public order and facilitating a fair electoral environment.
Police sources noted that the newly appointed SPs will assume responsibility for overseeing election security, managing law and order in their respective districts, and coordinating with central authorities to implement election-related directives. These measures are part of broader strategies to strengthen policing standards and operational accountability nationwide.
The lottery system, officials said, represents a departure from the previous practice of selective appointments, aiming to reduce allegations of favoritism or partiality during politically sensitive periods. Similar approaches for senior police positions may continue to be employed for future postings to reinforce transparency and merit-based assignments.