Get tough against influence-peddlers
PM asks police
UNB
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked police officials to take strong action against those committing crimes and injustice, no matter how influential the persons are or their political affiliation is, reports UNB.
Therere some people who often tend to extend influence with their political identity. My specific order in this regard is never to allow any kind of injustice to happen, no matter how influential the people are, she said. The prime minister was addressing the high officials of Bangladesh Police at her office marking the Police Week 2016.
Noting that the poor and weak people are often subjected to harassment by the so-called influential people, Hasina directed the police officials to protect and give shelter to hapless people.
Even, if anyone of my party in this connection tries to influence, then communicate with me as Ive given [you] such access and scope, she said.
Mentioning that there have been occurrences of smuggling and human trafficking due to geographical location, the Prime Minister asked the members of the police force to remain alert so that militancy and terrorism cannot reemerge in the country.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry Dr Mozammel Haque Khan, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Asaduzzaman Mia, DIG, Rajshahi Range Iqbal Bahar, Dhaka Police Super Habibur Rahman and Narsingdi Police Super Amena Begum spoke on the occasion.
IGP AKM Shahidul Haque delivered the address of welcome while Additional IGP Mokhlesur Rahman gave the vote of thanks.
Responding to the demand for forming a separate Division for police, Hasina said her government has a plan to appoint a couple of Secretaries to the Home Ministry so that this ministry could function better since the scope of works of the Ministry of Home Affairs has increased a lot.
We know it very well what to do where...leave this matter before me, she added.
Hasina said steps have been taken to ensure exchange of information and boost coordination among the intelligence agencies as she sits with the chiefs of the intelligence agencies regularly at the National Security Advisory Committee meeting.
The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to take a big project addressing various problems of police in phases like constructing buildings at the police stations, ensuring separate accommodation and barracks for the female personnel, installing CCTVs at the divisional headquarters of police.
She also welcomed a proposal for introducing insurance policy for the police force considering their nature of work with risks. Regarding the demand for forming a separate bank for police, Hasina said she has no objection in this regard if the police force could provide Tk 400 crore for forming a bank and put forward the matter to the Finance Minister.
She also thanked the members of the police force for their time-befitting pioneering role in curbing terrorism, militancy adding that for this it has been possible to maintain the economic progress.
She also directed the police officials to ensure proper security to both local and international tourists coming to Coxs Bazar, tea gardens and in the hilly areas. The most important thing is to gain the trust and confidence of common people and also to discharge your duties with utmost honesty and integrity.
Highlighting various steps of her government for further developing and modernising this force, Hasina said due to the time befitting steps of her government for the last seven years, the manpower of police now stood at one and a half lakh.
