Punishment by BMP fails to deter wrongdoers
More and more cops get involved in drug trading and scandals in Barisal
Staff Reporter, Barisal
It seems departmental action has not been able to curb misconduct by personnel of the Barisal Metropolitan Police and district police.
In recent times, policemen have been found to be involved in drug trading and scandals with women. Senior officers of the city and district police claim that action has been taken against the guilty. But civil society members have demanded that such elements be dismissed from service, as departmental action has failed to rein in wayward policemen.
According to police sources, from July 2016 to July 2017, a total of 473 members of the BMP and district police, including constables and sub-inspectors (SIs), have been punished for being involved in various crimes and irregularities. Of them, 233 were of officer rank and 40 were constables. Forty received heavy punishment and 233 light.
The crimes were extortion, drug peddling, repression of women, love violation, delaying forwarding of cases and so on. After receiving light and heavy punishment, most of them returned to their job and are working now. But police crimes are continuing. Not only that, involvement of policemen in drug trading and women-related scandals is increasing.
Ten policemen have been arrested for trading Yaba tablets in Barisal in the last one year and sent to jail. The Detective Branch of the BMP arrested constable Partho Chandra Dey and constable Tanjinul Rohoman of the RRF Barisal while they were trading 40 Yaba tablets in the Lakutia area of the city last Monday. A court sent them to jail.
Earlier, Constable Syful Islam of the BMP was arrested by the Kotwali police with 459 pieces of Yaba from the Sagardi area of the city. Another constable of Ariport police station, Mehedi Hasan, was arrested with 39 pieces of Yaba from the Guachoita area by Banaripara police. Three constables -- Emran, Rakib Ahmed and Sykul Islam -- were arrested from the CB area of the city while taking Yaba. SI Mainul Islam of Airport police station of the city was caught red-handed at a house at Gorostan Road of the city. All were suspended, but most of them managed to return to their job.
A police report said 22 policemen were handed down heavy and 305 light punishment by the BMP authorities in the last one year. Punishments included black marks against their names and cut in salary.
During the same time, 18 policemen got heavy and 128 light punishment. Of them, constable Sabuj Talukdar of the district police was caught red-handed and punished for being involved in several love affairs. Constable Mitu Akter was punished for injuring himself over an illegal love affair. Others were punished for neglecting duty, taking bribe, submitting false information and other causes.
Uttam Kumar Pal, deputy commissioner of the Barisal Metropolitan Police and Metro DB, said after receiving allegations against policemen, the BMP authorities formed several inquiry committees in the last one year. After reports were submitted, the authorities handed down punishment. Saiful Islam, SP of Barisal district police, acknowledging the facts, said: We have programmes to motivate them on the issue. Police records say fresh crimes are being committed by members of the force. But suspension, cut in increment, black mark, admonition, appointment as OSD, demotion are not proving to be effective deterrent. Back in the job, they are again becoming involved in misconduct and irregularities.
Enayet Hossen Chowdury, organising commander of the Barisal Muktijodda Sangsad Command, said it is time to sack policemen involved in drug trading and scandals because they are violating their oath. The guilty policemen know very well that the authorities have no way to replace them. Taking advantage of the situation, they are committing crime, he added.
