The police force has been tarnished by the misconduct of some officers.

 The police force has been tarnished by the misconduct of some officers.

After coming to power in 2009, Hasina devised a master plan to maintain her hold on power. This plan centered around the Bangladesh Police Force, as she believed that controlling the police would make it easier to suppress the people and keep them quiet.

Reports suggest that after assuming power, Hasina recruited 32,000 members into the police force, 8,000 of whom were from Gopalganj district. Hasina had previously ordered this partisan recruitment, marking the beginning of corruption within the police force. Over time, police officers from Gopalganj started proudly identifying themselves as "Gopalis." Particularly, BCS cadre officers from Gopalganj quickly rose to influential positions within the police force, gaining favor in Hasina's eyes. Senior "Gopali" officers were given prized postings by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The "Gopalis" became a dominant force within the police, wielding so much power that even senior officials were intimidated by them.

One such officer was former DMP Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, who was dismissed after Hasina's downfall. He joined the Bangladesh Police as an Assistant Superintendent of Police through the 17th BCS exam on February 22, 1998. After Hasina came to power, Habib held several important positions within the police, including SP of Dhaka district and additional Assistant Inspector General at the police headquarters. He was later promoted to Deputy Inspector General (DIG). On October 10, 2022, he was appointed as the head of the Tourist Police Unit and transferred as DMP Commissioner in 2023. Habibur Rahman was known as a "masked officer," whose main job was to serve the ruling party's interests. To gain Hasina's favor, he authored a book titled "Letters of Sheikh Mujib," and to please the Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, he wrote another book, "Nondito Bir Muktijoddha Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal." The publication ceremonies for these books were held with much fanfare to showcase Habib's influence. Regular police officers couldn't compete with Habib's power, as his words were seen as an unwritten law in the force. He often presented himself as the future IGP, and even senior officers spoke to him with deference. Habib was more adept at implementing the political agenda of the Awami League than performing his professional duties. He amassed millions through recruitment and transfer deals within the police. Hasina highly praised his actions against opposition parties, which made him increasingly powerful. Habib was the one who ordered the shooting during the anti-discrimination student protests. Several OCs admitted that he had instructed those in areas under DMP jurisdiction to create fear by openly shooting to kill, and they felt compelled to follow his orders to avoid losing their jobs.

Another "Gopali" officer, Banaj Kumar, was a controversial figure known for his anti-Muslim stance. However, as a "Gopali," he was in Hasina's good books. After holding several key positions, he was ultimately appointed head of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). In the high-profile Nusrat murder case, Banaj Kumar resorted to corruption to alter various aspects of the investigation. He was also accused of manipulating the investigation into the murder of popular actor Salman Shah for money and accumulating wealth through corrupt practices.

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Another pro-Awami officer among the "Gopalis" was Monirul Islam, who staged numerous dramas in the name of countering terrorism during Hasina's rule, torturing madrasa students and scholars for days on end. He did not hesitate to label opposition party leaders and activists as terrorists. As the head of the Detective Branch (DB), he detained many people for days without trial, filed false cases, and was also the mastermind behind the abduction of opposition party leaders and activists. During Hasina's downfall, he was serving as the head of the Special Branch (SB). However, after Hasina's fall, he was also dismissed from his job, and there are now calls for his prosecution.

Another trusted police officer of Hasina was former IGP Benazir Ahmed. Simply because he was a "Gopali," he exhibited arrogance, pride, and influence that was unmatched. It is said that even the Home Minister was no match for Benazir. To implement the secret blueprint to prolong Hasina's power, then-DMP Commissioner Benazir carried out a massacre at the Hefazat rally in Motijheel’s Shapla Square in 2010. He also embezzled billions by abusing his power. Benazir’s corruption, his anti-Islam stance, and the illegal occupation of Hindu community lands are now widely known to the public. Now accused of corruption, Hasina's trusted former IGP is on the run abroad.

Another "Gopali" officer, Khandker Khorashed Hossain, the Director General of RAB, is also known for his anti-Islam stance. Khorashed Hossain, known for his partisan rhetoric, frequently harassed and falsely charged opposition leaders and activists, and was involved in numerous extrajudicial killings. He also faces allegations of abducting opposition leaders and activists.

During Hasina's 15 years and 7 months in power, "Gopali" inspectors were extensively appointed as OCs in various DMP police stations. In particular, before the 2014 elections, the "Gopalis" were deployed as OCs in police stations to execute a mission to eliminate Jamaat. At one point, the appointment of "Gopalis" as OCs in at least 34 out of 50 DMP stations increased repression against the opposition. One such officer was Shahbagh Police Station’s OC (Operations), Arshad Hossain, who came into the spotlight for covering the mouth of Nahidul Islam, a student of New Model Degree College, during the "March for Justice" program of the anti-discrimination student movement. He was temporarily suspended after Hasina's downfall. Several officers said in interviews that the "Gopalis" were primarily responsible for transforming the police force into an anti-people entity. Their dominance left officers from other districts feeling helpless. Hasina's government deprived many officers by promoting "Gopalis" instead of police officers from other districts. Some say that the politicization of the police department was the reason for Hasina's downfall. If not for this, the police would have retained the trust of the people. By promoting the "Gopalis" to consolidate her power, Hasina brought about her own downfall.