West Bengal IPS officer Bushra Bano at the centre of a social media controversy (Image: Google)
New Delhi/Kolkata: A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after IPS officer Bushra Bano was transferred from her post as Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kharagpur, following criticism over an inspirational video she shared for civil services aspirants. The transfer order was issued by the West Bengal government on September 14, 2026, mentioning 'public interest' as the reason. However, the move has drawn attention as it came after objections from some Hindu groups over her use of Islamic greetings and phrases in the video.
Bushra Bano had shared a video discussing her journey from civil services preparation to becoming an IPS officer. At the beginning of the video, she greeted viewers with “Assalam Alaikum” and later used the phrase “Inshallah” while encouraging students preparing for competitive examinations.
In the video, she spoke about her experience preparing for the UPSC examination and highlighted the role of the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in supporting aspirants.
Originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, Bushra Bano completed her PhD from AMU and had also worked in the Gulf before pursuing her civil services career. She cleared the UPSC examination in 2021 and joined the Indian Police Service. In her video, she said she wanted to share her journey so that other aspirants could benefit from her experience.
Following the video, some social media groups objected to the use of Islamic greetings and expressions by a serving officer. Critics argued that government officers should maintain neutrality while communicating publicly. Supporters of Bushra Bano, however, questioned whether personal expressions used in a motivational message should become a reason for official action.
The West Bengal government’s transfer notification states that Bushra Bano has been moved to the post of Deputy Commandant of the 4th Battalion of the State Armed Police. The order does not mention the controversy surrounding the video as the reason for the transfer.
The development has triggered political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the timing of the transfer. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi urged the IPS Association to take note of the matter and raised concerns over the action following the controversy.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said the government has the authority to transfer officers, but added that personal expressions that do not violate rules should not become a reason for punishment.
The controversy has sparked a wider discussion on the limits of personal expression for government officials, especially while sharing content on public platforms. The West Bengal government has maintained that the transfer was an administrative decision, while critics continue to debate whether the timing was linked to the social media controversy.
