Govt has plan to appoint several secretaries for smooth functioning: PM Sheikh Hasina

Addressing the senior police officials at her office marking the Police Week-2016 the prime minister asked the police officials not to give indulgence to any injustice even if it's done by any politically influential person.

"If the offender is a leader of my party, you will communicate with me as all of you have access to me," she said.

The prime minister asked the district police bosses to remain careful on land grabbers particularly on those taking away the small land of poor section of people. She also asked them to be more active against the drug which became epidemic across the country.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Dr M Mozammel Haq Khan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Home also spoke on the occasion while Inspector General of Police M Shahidul Haq gave the welcome address.

Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police M Asaduzzaman Mia, DIG Rajshahi Range Iqbal Bahar, Police Super of Narsingdi Amena Begum, Police Super of Dhaka District Police Habibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion highlighting various demands of the force along with some suggestions for development of the police force.

The prime minister praised police force for their dedicated services towards maintaining law and order particularly during the time of BNP-Jamaat orchestrated vandalism in 2014 and 2015. She paid tributes to the police personnel who were killed during that mayhem.

The prime minister said due to its geographical location Bangladesh needed to face many problems as far as law and order, internal security, human trafficking and smugglings are concerned. "Police should remain always active against those menace," she said.

Asking the police officials to take more measures to ensure safety in the national and regional highways she said security of the tourists particularly foreign tourists must be ensured.

She said safety of the tourists is important as the government has announced this year as "tourism year" and huge foreign tourists are visiting Bangladesh being attracted to longest sea beach in Cox's Bazar and other natural beauties across the country.

"Most important thing for police is to build up public confidence. People want that they would get security and justice from police. In view of this police must work with sincerity and devotion," she said.

Pointing out the giving of new pay scale for civil servants the prime minister said police force would also enjoy its benefit. "The pay-scale was given with a view to provide the people a decent and easy life and everybody has a job satisfaction," she said.

The prime minister said her government is getting support from everybody to the programmes taken by her government for socio-economic development of the country.

Due to the support of the law enforcing agencies, she said Bangladesh could achieve 6.5 percent growth in last fiscal even amid volatile situation created by BNP-Jamaat.

About various demands of the police force, the prime minister said she would have opportunity to examine the demands if those were submitted to her earlier. However, some of the demands were fulfilled already before raising those to the government, she said adding that we know it better how to make the home ministry more functional.

In this regard the prime minister said coordination in various agencies linked to law enforcing are very crucial than creating a separate division for the police. "Leave the matter on me and I will see it," she said adding it would take some time.

Laying importance on creating a counter terrorism unit comprising all related agencies dealing with militancy and terrorism, the prime minister said terrorism is now global phenomenon and the nature of crime is changing frequently.

Though spate of terrorism and militancy remained under control in Bangladesh, but we need coordination among all agencies to sustain the success, she said. "Counter terrorism unit should be constituted keeping this in mind," she added.

The prime minister said the government has constituted a national security advisory council comprising representatives from all intelligence agencies. The council helped exchanging information and take action in any need against the militancy.

The prime minister said her government is undertaking a plan for arrangement of the accommodation for every police officials and constables at district and upazila levels. "Separate housing facilities would be arranged for female police cops," she said.

About the demand of police officials for a separate bank for them the prime minister said she would discuss the matter with the finance minister. "I will have no objection to your demand if you can accumulate initial capital of Taka 400 crore," she said.

About the demand of the police officials to give the charge of security of the airports completely on police the prime minister said police was given the charge earlier. But it could not yield any result, making flight operation and airport security risky.

Lack of security posed risk of suspension of London flight from Dhaka, she said adding a composite unit must be established to look into the security of the airports. "We have to make the security of the airports visible according to the international norm and standard," she said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol