Reining in the errant policemen

Due to the dubious activities of some personnel the whole police force is suffering from a serious image crisis

It is quite disturbing to note that transport workers at different points in Khulna city and other places in the district are becoming victims of random extortion and harassment perpetrated by Khulna Metropolitan Police  (KMP)  sergeants and highway police under the pretext of checking documents.  A report on this unwelcome phenomenon appeared in this newspaper on Monday. Transport workers often allege that policemen often seize their licenses and registration documents or file cases against them on false charges. Unless these transport workers cough up the demanded amount, their documents are not released, they said.  On the other hand, police say that they do not demand money from transport workers; they only receive what is given to them willingly. Now the question is why should any vehicle driver willingly hand over their hard-earned money to a cop?
  Not only in Khulna, there are allegations of extorting money from transport workers widespread in different parts of the country.  When the custodians of law get themselves embroiled in misdeeds, where will the common people go for their safety and security? Criminal activities by police very often make newspaper headlines. The way an SI of Police tortured an official of the Bangladesh Bank for extracting money recently speaks volumes of the extent of police brutalities perpetrated on the innocent citizens.
Unfortunately in Bangladesh it is a common belief that the police can never be friends of people. This notion has gained currency due to the incidents of harassment and torture perpetrated by a section of corrupt policemen.  Due to the dubious activities of some personnel the whole police force is suffering from a serious image crisis. They are appearing as predators instead of protectors.  When in uniform certain sections of them think that they are above law and they can do and undo things according to their whims and caprices.  
    It is high time the errant policemen are brought under strict surveillance by the higher authority. The departmental enquiry, in most cases, does not go against their interest. In some cases, the ‘punished’ policemen get back their jobs. The departmental action of mere closing or temporary suspension of the errant policemen will not do. The accused ones should be given exemplary punishment to stop repetition of such crimes. The mindset of the police force also needs to be changed.

Reining in the errant policemen

Due to the dubious activities of some personnel the whole police force is suffering from a serious image crisis

It is quite disturbing to note that transport workers at different points in Khulna city and other places in the district are becoming victims of random extortion and harassment perpetrated by Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) sergeants and highway police under the pretext of checking documents. A report on this unwelcome phenomenon appeared in this newspaper on Monday. Transport workers often allege that policemen often seize their licenses and registration documents or file cases against them on false charges. Unless these transport workers cough up the demanded amount, their documents are not released, they said. On the other hand, police say that they do not demand money from transport workers; they only receive what is given to them willingly. Now the question is why should any vehicle driver willingly hand over their hard-earned money to a cop? Not only in Khulna, there are allegations of extorting money from transport workers widespread in different parts of the country. When the custodians of law get themselves embroiled in misdeeds, where will the common people go for their safety and security? Criminal activities by police very often make newspaper headlines. The way an SI of Police tortured an official of the Bangladesh Bank for extracting money recently speaks volumes of the extent of police brutalities perpetrated on the innocent citizens. Unfortunately in Bangladesh it is a common belief that the police can never be friends of people. This notion has gained currency due to the incidents of harassment and torture perpetrated by a section of corrupt policemen. Due to the dubious activities of some personnel the whole police force is suffering from a serious image crisis. They are appearing as predators instead of protectors. When in uniform certain sections of them think that they are above law and they can do and undo things according to their whims and caprices. It is high time the errant policemen are brought under strict surveillance by the higher authority. The departmental enquiry, in most cases, does not go against their interest. In some cases, the punished policemen get back their jobs. The departmental action of mere closing or temporary suspension of the errant policemen will not do. The accused ones should be given exemplary punishment to stop repetition of such crimes. The mindset of the police force also needs to be changed.