Work to protect independence, uphold democracy: PM to police

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday asked the police personnel to work with professionalism to protect the country's hard-earned independence along with maintaining the law and order situation and upholding the democracy in the country. "You have to protect the independence achieved through the 24-year long struggle by the Father of the Nation and in exchange for blood of your predecessors, from all sorts of attacks," she said.

She said this as the chief guest while opening the Police Week-2022 at a function held at Rajarbag Police Line in the city, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here. The prime minister added: "My belief is that each member of the police force will work with professionalism and carry out pro-people service to maintain the country's law and order and uphold democracy".

She said that the police force quickly responds to the people's call through 999 service, adding, "The quick response from the police through 999 has increased people's confidence and belief in the police force." Sheikh Hasina said her government has been providing all the required modern facilities and transportation alongside imparting training to the police personnel to render quick services to the people. The premier said purchasing two helicopters for the police is now under process.

She also extended her thanks to the policemen for standing beside with people by risking life during the global Covid-19 Pandemic. The Police Week-2022 is being observed in the country this year with the theme "Skilled Police, Prosperous Country, Bangabandhu's Bangladesh." Different police contingents staged a spectacular parade led by police superintendent Md Saleh Uddin to mark the police week.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on behalf of the prime minister visited the parade and took salute, riding on an open jeep. On behalf of the prime minister, the home minister handed over the police awards in four categories to 230 policemen for their outstanding performance in 2020 and 2021. Nine of them were awarded posthumously. A total of 115 members of police and RAB have been adorned with the award of the BPMs and PPMs in 2020 and 2021 each.

In 2020, of the 115 awardees, 15 of them received the BPM-gallantry and 25 the PPM-gallantry awards while 25 got BPM-Service and 50 the PPM-Service awards for their outstanding performance in respective fields.

In 2021, of the 115 awardees, 15 received the BPM-gallantry, 25 the PPM-gallantry, 25 the BPM-Service and 50 the PPM-Service awards. RAB Director General and Additional Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was among the awardees. Sheikh Hasina greeted the awardee police personnel and hoped that it would inspire others in the force to follow the footprints of them.

Spelling out various measures taken by the Awami League government for the overall development of police, she said that they have raised facilities regarding housing, ration, healthcare and providing training and supplying of necessary vehicles and other equipment to the police. The prime minister said the budget for the police was only Tk 400 crore when they assumed office in 1996.

But, later they made the amount double and introduced a risk allowance, she said. During their 1996-2001 periods, she said they, for the first time, appointed a female police officer as a superintendent of police, formed a police welfare trust giving Taka 5 crore seed money, established 25 police stations, 86 investigation centres, 58 highway police outposts, 150 police camps and 10 police outposts.