Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Saturday said despite serious efforts police so far could not eradicate drug peddling (mainly yaba, cannabis, wine) and militancy from the country.
He termed the yaba as the main problem among all types of drug addiction normally entering the country thru different innovative ways mainly from Myanmar and India.
The IGP made the comment replying queries of reporters after a press briefing at his office on Saturday ahead of Police Week-2018 scheduled to be held on January 8 to 12.
The prime minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the program at Razarbagh Police Lines ground in the capital tomorrow (Monday).
The police chief said fishermen and some unscrupulous men from different professional strata carry yaba tablets inside fish bellies and in vegetables lots. That’s why police is in a fix to curb such smugglings in 90 km to 100km
frontier areas of Cox’s bazaar and some other districts with India. The law enforcing agencies filed 2,87,254 drug related cases in last few years and arrested 1,15,528 people in connection with the drug use, smuggling and trading, the IGP claimed.
He also said that police action on drug peddlers based on a list is not enough. Awareness of families and call for resistance from educational and social organizations will be more effective to eradicate drug and militancy.
The IGP also claimed that the Interpol sought two police members for permanently posting with its force. They will be selected from a list of officials participated in 35 successful anti-militancy drives in Bangladesh in which they killed 57 militants.
Meanwhile, Around 182 policemen will be honoured he said with the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President’s Police Medal (PPM) during the Police Week-2018.
Alongside, 124 other police officials will be awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal (PPM) in the categories of courageous performance, expertise and dedication to duties.
Md Moniruzzaman, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Intelligence and Special Affairs of Police Headquarters (PHQ), said 106 police officials have been selected for their roles in anti-militancy operations.
Another 42, who suffered severe injuries, will be awarded for their bravery in anti-militancy drives and fighting terrorism, the official added.
Three officers will be awarded for sacrificing their lives in a bomb blast during the anti-militancy operation, “operation Twilight”, on March 25 in Sylhet. They are Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad, Intelligence Wing Director of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),
Chowdhury Abu Mohammad Kaiser, an inspector of court police in Sylhet, and Monirul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Jalalabad Police Station.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would award medals to police and Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) members at Razarbagh Police Lines in the capital.
Among them, 30 would also receive BPM-service award and 53 will be honoured with PPM-service award. Some 71 officials will receive PPM-courage award while 30 others will get BPM-courage in recognition of their courageous performance round the year, said Moniruzzaman.
The cop chief said the rank of the 86 awardees ranges between constable and inspector.
Three officials of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and one of Tourist police will be awarded for their efficiency.
In addition, some 12 female officials are being awarded for their extra-ordinary services. The high officials of police, being awarded this year, include Mokhlesur Rahman, additional inspector general (admin), Shafiqul Islam, additional IGP of anti terrorism unit; Asaduzzaman Mia, DMP Commissioner, Monirul Islam, Chief of Counter Terrorism Unit, Md Moniruzzaman, additional DIG of Intelligence and Special Affairs of PHQ, Sheikh Hemayet Hossain, additional IGP of CID, and Md Asaduzzaman, Superintendent of Bogra Police.
