Following heavy criticism for the tragic death of retired Major Sinha, and the bomb blast inside the Pallabi Police Station, police high ups have decided to start a massive image-regaining drive in the force.
Conscious citizens opined that police personnel contributed a lot in combating the deadly Covid-19, and even their supreme sacrifices in giving their lives for the nation. When family members and close relatives refused to take part in burials of the Covid-19 dead, the police came forward to conduct the burials despite the high risk of infection.
They also brought critical virus patients to the hospitals when no one came to help. However, some police officers were allegedly involved in the bomb blast inside the Pallabi Police Station while trying to establish the blast as a militant attack to hide their bribery in the Mirpur division.
Some police personnel were allegedly involved in the killing of former army officer, Major Sinha, in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar. Thus, a very few police personnel are tarnishing the image of the police, the force which first resisted the Pakistai occupation army in 1971.
These two incidents seriously damaged the image of the police that was successfully gained through their services, including in the fight against Covid-19.
To regain and rebuild the image of the police, police high ups have planned to bring major changes in police across the country, sources said.
As part of the plan of major reshuffle in the police, the Inspector General of Police( IGP) recently held a series of meetings with senior police officers at Police Headquarters.
Those who are working for years on end at the same places, are going to be transferred very soon on a priority basis.
A list of ‘corrupt’ police personnel is going to be prepared very soon.
The major reshuffle will take place any day of this month, most probably after the National Mourning Day August 15 .
In the list, some Deputy Inspector Generals ( DIGs), Additional DIGs and SPs will be included. Proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office ( PMO) for consent of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the sources, PHQ has taken some initiatives so that the Teknaf, and Pallabi Police Station incidents do not occur in future. To avoid such incidents by some police personnel, PHQ is going to bring a major reshuffle.
According to the sources, DIGs of Chattogram, Barishal, Rajshahi and Chattrogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner may be included in the list for immediate transfer. Some SPs will also be transferred. All police personnel at Teknaf Police Station will be transferred immediately.
Those who are working more than two years in different police stations of Cox’s Bazar, will also be transferred from the range.
After getting intelligence reports, the ‘corrupt’ police personnel will be identified. Necessary measures will also be taken against them.
The present IGP wants to make the police a force of the people.
IGP Dr Benazir Ahmed had urged officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations across the country to perform their duties earnestly to become social leaders and elevate the image of Bangladesh Police.
He had recently said the force has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and corruption, in an effort to build a drugs-and corruption-free nation as directed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He is working on a zero tolerance principle to make Bangladesh Police drug and corruption-free as per the prime minister’s directives.
He hoped that no police member would take drugs, be involved in drugs business or have any relationship with drugs.
The police chief ordered the police to stop brutality .
He also instructed his force to work according to its legal capacity.
Benazir said the police have to be free of any form of corruption if they want to be the police of the general public.
The present IGP is very serious about reaching the image of the police to a greater height by curbing corruption in the force.