The police headquarters is mulling a new mechanism to recruit constables as part of efforts to stop the flow of inefficient people in the force through corruption and political influence. 

Under the new system, officials at the police HQ will prepare a 40-mark question paper for written tests and evaluate the answer sheets. The job is now done by a committee headed by the superintendent of police (SP) of the district concerned.

The police authorities are considering this change because a section of ministers, lawmakers and party leaders allegedly compel the SPs to recruit candidates of their choice, leading to the hiring of incompetent people, said sources in the police HQ.

Inefficiency of lower-tier cops came to the fore after policemen failed to counter the sudden attacks at two checkpoints at Gabtoli in the capital and Ashulia on its outskirts in October and November last year. Two policemen were killed in the attacks.

Though the new recruitment process would curtail the power of district police, the SPs in 54 districts out of the 64 welcomed the move. Eight SPs gave no opinions and two opposed it, an official at the police HQ told The Daily Star.

Besides, 85 out of 130 top police officials are in favour of the new system while 29 refrained from giving their views, the official said, seeking anonymity.  

"As we have to recruit those recommended by political leaders, we often find ourselves in an embarrassing situation. We have to select unfit or less qualified persons, rejecting the fit, intelligent and honest candidates," said an SP, preferring to remain unnamed.

“If anyone dares to ignore the leaders' recommendations, he is branded as dishonest, anti-government and even anti-liberation,” said the police official.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the whole process of constable recruitment is under the jurisdiction of the police headquarters and the inspector general of police. “What they need to do is to inform us about the new system.”

Asked whether he appreciated the move, the minister said he welcomed any move against corruption.

Talking to a good number of SP-ranked police officials and recently recruited constables, it is learnt that it takes Tk 3 lakh to Tk 6 lakh to get the job of a constable.

Most of the money goes to political leaders. In some cases, the SPs also recruit candidates in exchange for money, they alleged.

“Apart from some exceptions, it is not possible to get the job of a police constable without local MP's recommendations. Though the SPs are the key persons to recruit candidates, they in fact implement the recommendations of ministers, MPs and party leaders,” said an official of the rank of SP.

Such recruits lack moral courage and remain busy in taking bribes as they manage jobs by bribing officials, according to the police official.

A central committee member of the ruling Awami League admitted that the process of hiring constables is mired in corruption. The AL leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said corruption takes place through collusion between political leaders and SPs.

“During the last recruitment [last year] in my district, only one relative of a top district Awami League leader managed a job without giving bribes. All other had to give money,” added the AL leader.

At the moment, the police force has 1.63 lakh members -- some 1.13 lakh of them constables. The government plans to recruit around 50,000 more, mostly constables, by 2020.

Between 2009 and 2014, the AL government recruited around 23,000 police members in different positions, most of them constables, police sources said.

In the previous pay scale, an entry-level constable used to draw a monthly pay of around Tk 8,500 with a basic salary of Tk 4,100. In the new pay scale effective from July last year, the salary almost doubled with a basic of Tk 8,250.

Asked about the fresh recruitment process, Assistant Inspector General (Recruitment and Career Planning) of police Monirul Islam said, “The move is at the discussion stage.”

The inspector general of police, who holds the ultimate authority on the matter, has the mandate to allow the changes. The IGP, however, is yet to make a decision, sources said.

The Daily Star tried to reach IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque over the phone last week, but he did not pick up the call.

At present, there is a 60-mark recruitment test -- 40 for written test and 20 for viva-voce. The SP-led committees make primary selection through physical tests in the districts concerned, prepare question papers for written examinations and evaluate those. It also conducts the viva-voce of the candidates selected through the written test.

Under the new system, officials at the police HQ will prepare different sets of question papers for various police ranges for a 40-mark written test. Five officials will evaluate each answer sheet and then send those to the SPs.

The SP-led committees will make the initial selection and hold viva-voce as they do now.

Many police officials believe the new system will check corruption in the recruitment process, and the force will be able to hire efficient people.

Talking to The Daily Star, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said recruitment through political influence has been institutionalised in all government organisations.

“We have seen open outbursts from political leaders whenever recruitment was done ignoring political influence.”

The new hiring process would improve the situation a bit, but it would not uproot corruption in police recruitment, he added.