The police want a ration system for family members of those policemen who died on duty or normally in service. A proposal has been sent from the police headquarters to the home ministry, requesting it to take steps to introduce the new system, said sources. A home ministry official said they have already forwarded the proposal to the finance ministry thrice, seeking its approval. However, the finance ministry has rejected the proposal. A finance ministry source explained, “When a policeman dies on duty, his/her family members are entitled to many government benefits. However, it’s not so when a policeman dies otherwise (even though in service). If we permit such facilities for the police force, the personnel of other services may also demand such benefits, which the state can’t bear.” Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has decided to send a demi-official letter to finance minister AMA Muhith to reconsider the decision on humanitarian grounds. According to the police proposal, they want ration facilities worth Tk. 3,000 per month for the spouse and maximum three children of a policeman who died in service.
“It will cost the government Tk. 36,000 annually for every policeman who died on duty or had a normal death in service. The government should provide the facilities on humanitarian grounds,” the proposal added. A senior police officer from the headquarters said that some 350 to 400 policemen die in service every year. “When a policeman dies, the authorities stop their ration facilities immediately, leaving their family members in dire straits. This is inhuman,” he added. He said 354 policemen had died last year. Of them, 126 had died on duty. Around 177,000 policemen serve the chief law enforcement agencies right now.