The names of five top police officials have already surfaced as forerunners to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner post, which will fall vacant on August 13.

The service tenure of the existing commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, who was appointed to the top post of DMP four and a half years ago, will end. He joined as DMP commissioner on January 7, 2015.

The officials most discussed for the soon-to-be vacant post are Additional Inspector General at Police Headquarters Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and Additional IGP and chief of Criminal Investigation Department Shafiqul Islam.

The ones in the race are Additional IG and rector of Mirpur Police Staff College Sheikh Mohammad Maruf Hasan, Addl IG at PHQ Shahabuddin Qureshi and Addl IG Iqbal Bahar.

All five officials joined the police cadre in eight BCS, 1989.

Police sources said the prime minister might make the selection for the post after Home Minister Asaduzzaman returns from his three-day tour of India.

Al Mamun, who earlier served as the deputy inspector general of Dhaka range, was recently transferred to the PHQ as an Addl IG. Mamun's name is the most discussed as the next commissioner in the force. He hails from Sunamganj district.

Sources said Mamun was in the "good books" of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary as he had a "clean image". The IGP wants to see him as the next DMP commissioner, sources added.

Since Javed Patwary took charge on January 25 last year, the PM has prioritised his opinions on bringing changes to the police force.

Additional IG Shafiqul is another one touted for the post, but sources said since he was appointed as the CID chief on May 16, he might not be transferred.

Hailing from Chuadanga district, Shafiqul, has been known as the "clean image" officer in the police force.

Meanwhile, officials said if the prime minister chose any of the juniors, then DMP Addl Commissioner Monirul Islam might be picked.

In the last couple of months, changes were brought to police super posts in different districts across the country and well-reputed officers got priority for the postings, sources said.