Sagar Biswas :
A parliamentary watchdog has asked the Home Ministry to ensure ‘tough and visible punishment’ to guilty policemen – responsible for extortion and other harassment on innocent people — for the sake of image regaining of the law enforcement agency.
The parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, in its meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, heavily came down on ministry concerned for its failure to check criminal and unsocial activities of some police members.
The JS body observed that a few members of the police force have made the entire police department controversial, which had earned huge reputation at home and abroad for successfully tackling “terrorism, militancy and other organized crimes”.
Officials of the Jatiya Sangsad told The New Nation yesterday that the JS body categorically blamed the Home Ministry for not taking any visible action specifically mentioning illegal activities of some police officials in Dhaka and other districts.
The meeting also observed that the some police personnel were involved in conspiracy with an intension to tarnish the internationally gained image of police force.
In this backdrop, the committee recommended the ministry concerned to take extra precaution so that none is harassed during search of his body or luggage, the officials said.
“The police force has done several good jobs. But some police officials are now involved in criminal activities. The parliamentary committee has suggested to ensure exemplary and visible punishment of the guilty policemen. …We have cautioned the department as none could tarnish its image,” Abu Syed Al Mahmud Swapon MP said after the meeting. On January 9 night Sub Inspector of Mohammadpur police station Masud had allegedly tried to extort money from Bangladesh Bank communications wing official Golam Rabbi by detaining him and threatening to book him as a drug addict.
An Inspector of Dhaka South City Corporation [DSCC] Bikash Chandra Das was severely beaten by Sub Inspector of the Jatrabarhi Police Station Arshad Hossain on January 15. A girl student of ASHA University who is also wife of a Jubo Dal leader was harassed by a Sub Inspector of Adabar police station on February 1. Not only that there were more such incidents in other districts, including Chittagong and Barisal.
Drawing the above examples of police harassment, the committee recommended to monitor the ‘search procedure’ by senior police officials, sources said.
Confirming the matter, another member of the parliamentary committee Md Fakrul Imam MP said, “The JS body has asked the police force to conduct search operation efficiently, without harassing any innocent person. The entire police force must not shoulder blame of such misdeed committed by a few of its members.”
Raising specific allegation against a police official for beating guardians of students in Chittagong, a member of the committee preferring to remain anonymous said, “We cannot allow the situation to continue. A conspiracy has cooked up to tarnish image of police. So, we have urged the concerned officials to remain cautious about it.” The meeting also put emphasis on “community policing” to discharge duties with more responsibility, he said, adding, “In recent cases, we have observed that some police personnel were suspended or withdrawn instantly after such incidents. But no action was taken after that finally.”
A media release issued by Jatiya Sangsad yesterday said that the JS body recommended to follow specific police guidelines during employment of drivers. It also asked the transport owners to come forward along with police department to maintain security of Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Presided over by committee chairman Tipu Munshi, the meeting was also attended by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former State Minister of Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Faridul Haque Khan, Abul Kalam Azad, Abu Syed Al Mahmud Swapon, Fakrul Imam and Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury.
Inspector General of police AKM Shahidul Hoque, Director General of Coast Guard Rear Admiral M Makbul Hossain, Senior Secretary to Home Ministry Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque Khan and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.
