Asaduzzaman Mia Explained

Asaduzzaman Mia
Office:CEO of National Security Affairs Cell
Term Start:14 September 2019
Term End:14 September 2022
Office1:32rd Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police
Appointed1:Minister of Home Affairs
Term Start1:7 January 2015
Term End1:13 September 2019
Predecessor1:Benazir Ahmed
Successor1:Shafiqul Islam
Alma Mater: Bangladesh Police Academy
Birth Date:14 August 1960
Birth Place:Faridpur, East Pakistan
Nationality:Bangladeshi
Profession:police officer
Module:
Embed:yes
Service:Dhaka Metropolitan Police
Branch: Bangladesh Police
Service Label:Unit
Department:National Security Affairs Cell
Rank: Addl. IGP
Status:Active

Asaduzzaman Mia, (born 14 August 1960) is a retired police officer who served as the 33rd Police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the longest serving commissioner and the former chief executive officer of National Security Affairs Cell under the Cabinet Division.[1] [2] During his tenure as DMP Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police was considered to be at its peak.[3]

During his term of nearly 5 years. Mia has been the figurehead in uprooting terrorism from the country.[4] The blockades and hartals went down significantly and there were almost no cases of torching of vehicles or clashes.[5] He was the most successful commissioner in terms of reduction of traffic and implementation of strict traffic laws following the 2018 road safety protests. Dhaka saw a curb in drug trafficking following a major crackdown during his term.[6]

Early life

Mia was born on 14 August 1960 at Alfadanga in Faridpur District of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). After completing his Master's, he joined the Bangladesh Police force as an Assistant Police Superintendent on 15 February 1988.[7]

Career

Mia served in Chittagong Railway Police in 2001.[8] He was then transferred to Syedpur Railway Police. He was then transferred to the Armed Police Battalion in Bogra District. He served at the Police Training Center in Noakhali District. During the 2001 to 2006 Bangladesh Nationalist Party government rule, Mia was discriminated in promotion along with other police officers from Faridpur District, Gopalganj District, and Hindu officers as they were perceived to be supporters of Awami League.

Mia served as the superintendent of police in Sunamganj, Pabna, Tangail, Chittagong and Saidpur. He was the CO of the first Armed Police Battalion in Bogra.[9] He was the additional deputy inspector general and commandant of Noakhali Police Training Center. He also served in Khulna, Chittagong, Dhaka and highway range as a DIG. He was promoted to additional inspector general of police in December 2015.[10]

Mia was the 33rd Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police served from 7 January 2015 to 13 September 2019. It was during his tenure the July 2016 Dhaka attack took place.[11]

Holey Artisan

During the Holey Artisan Attack, DMP Commissioner, Asaduzzaman Mia, and several officers struck inside and opened fire on the militants in an attempt to rescue civilians from the site. 9 people were brought back from the site in the attempt. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was briefed by the Commissioner and she instructed him to move away with his men and informed him the Army Chief Belal Shafiul Huq was on his way from Sylhet.[12] He has been known as one of the figurehead who contributed in uprooting terrorism from the country.[4]

During his tenure as the DMP Commissioner, arrests without warrants was brought down by 99%, general diary (GD) format was introduced in every police station, an e-traffic prosecution system was introduced and information of Dhaka residents was stored on a digital database to reduce crimes.[13]

He introduced the ‘Citizen Information Management System (CIMS) which collected the information of over 7.2 million citizens. This prevented individuals to rent out or rent a house without a lease information form. This soon became a driving force in eradicating major terror hideouts dens in the capital and decreased theft, robbery and extortion.[14] He was notable in decreasing drug trafficking during his tenure by advocating and beginning several anti-drug campaigns and a massive crackdown on drug dens in Dhaka leading to arrest of several top drug traders in the city.[6] In 2018, a list of the top 100 drug traders in the capital was made leading to a massive crackdown.[15]

He served as an instrumental figure in bringing discipline to city’s traffic system. He began a month-long special traffic programme following the 2018 road safety protests in Dhaka. Buses were prevented to stop except at the designated stoppages and had fixed 121 spots as bus stoppages. During the programme He urged the city dwellers to use the zebra crossing, footbridges and underpasses to cross roads and not to risk their lives cross the road amid traffic. He prevented unregistered rickshaws in the city roads and made it mandatory for drivers of buses to put up his mobile phone number and photograph on the buses.[16] He banned run down transport vehicles called Laguna in Dhaka.[17]

Mia served as the President of Bangladesh Police Service Association three times. In 2016, Mia was elected president of the committee while Harun Ur Rashid, then SP of Gazipur, was made general secretary.[18] In 2017, Mia was elected president for a second time while Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of DMP under Mia was made general secretary.[19] Mia served last as the president in 2018 being re-elected president for a third time before his retirement in 2019.[20]

Mia has been the recipient of the Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery) (BPM) twice in 2017 and 2019 respectively. He has also been awarded with the President's Police Medal (Bravery) twice.[21] [22]

In August 2019, the government cancelled his retirement and extended his term in office.[23] His tenure at Dhaka Metropolitan Police was extended by one month.[24] Mia was made the Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed National Security Affairs Cell on 14 September 2019.[25]

Honours

Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery)President Police Medal (Bravery)Independence Day Award Medal

Allegations of corruption

In June 2024, Media reports Asaduzzaman Mia and his family own several plots, apartments and lands in Dhaka.[26] According to media reports, his wife owns a plot and two apartments and his daughter owns a flat in Dhaka. His wife and children own 67 decimals of land in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj while his family and kin own 166 decimals of land in these three districts[27]

Notes and References

  1. News: Asaduzzaman made CEO of national security cell . The Daily Star . 15 November 2019 . en . 3 September 2019.
  2. News: Ex-addl IGP Mir Shahidul made CEO of National Security Cell. June 5, 2024. www.newagebd.net.
  3. News: Asaduzzaman Mia reappointed as DMP commissioner. Staff. Correspondent. August 13, 2019. Prothom Alo.
  4. News: Police to root out extremism from country, says DMP chief . New Age .
  5. News: Sabotage instigators won’t be spared . bangla news 24.
  6. News: Drug abuse would be uprooted from Dhaka at any cost . Bangla Tribune.
  7. News: bn:অবসরের প্রস্তুতিতে আছাদুজ্জামান মিয়া . https://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article1651286.bdnews . bdnews24.com . 15 November 2019.
  8. Web site: Ahsan . Zayadul . Pariahs in police . 2022-09-28 . archive.thedailystar.net . The Daily Star . 2017-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170327171103/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/01/21/d7012101033.htm . dead .
  9. Web site: Biography of Commissioner – Dhaka Metropolitan Police . https://web.archive.org/web/20190202010520/https://dmp.gov.bd/biography-of-commissioner/ . dead . 2 February 2019 . Dhaka Metropolitan Police . 15 November 2019 . 2 February 2019.
  10. Web site: Staff Correspondent . DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, six others made additional IGP . 2022-09-28 . bdnews24.com . en.
  11. Web site: Report . Star Online . 2017-12-03 . 'Gulshan café attack charge sheet by this month' . 2022-09-28 . The Daily Star . en.
  12. News: 27 November 2019 . Ex-Dhaka police chief Asaduzzaman Mia recalls first responses to Holey Artisan attack . bdnews24.com .
  13. News: Outgoing DMP commissioner regrets failure to bring about discipline on the roads . .
  14. News: Tenants’ info helped to bust terror hideouts: DMP . Bangla Tribune.
  15. News: DMP lists 56 drug dealers, patrons . The Daily Star.
  16. Web site: No human hauler on Dhaka streets [Tritiyo Matra News ]]. www.tritiyomatra.com.
  17. Web site: Staff Correspondent . 2018-09-05 . No Laguna in Dhaka city: DMP chief . 2022-09-28 . The Daily Star . en.
  18. News: BPSA forms new executive committee . Dhaka Tribune.
  19. News: Asaduzzaman chief, Monirul secy of police association . the daily star.
  20. News: Reunion of admin, police services associations held in Dhaka . the daily star.
  21. News: 24 January 2017 . 132 personnel received `Police Medal` . 15 January 2024 . The New Nation.
  22. News: January 30, 2019 . Medal galore for police personnel . 15 January 2024. The Daily Star.
  23. Web site: Report . Star Online . 2019-08-13 . Asaduzzaman to continue job till Sep 13 . 2022-09-28 . The Daily Star . en.
  24. Web site: Correspondent . Senior . Why DMP chief Asaduzzaman Mia is appointed on contract for only one month . 2022-09-28 . bdnews24.com . en.
  25. News: DMP chief Asaduzzaman Mia made CEO of National Security Affairs Cell . bdnews24.com . 15 November 2019.
  26. Web site: Asaduzzaman . 2024-06-18 . Ex-DMP commissioner Asaduzzam’s wife owns flats and land in Dhaka . 2024-06-19 . Prothomalo . en.
  27. Web site: 2024-06-19 . Ex-DMP chief’s wealth: Another tip of the Iceberg? . 2024-06-19 . The Business Standard . en.