Village policemen demand nationalisation of the force
Members of Bangladesh Village Police have demanded the nationalisation of the force as well as inclusion in the pension scheme.
They also expressed their discontent by staging a protest outside the National Press Club to mark the May Day today (1 May).
The Bangabandhu Adarsh Village Police Force Central Committee, led by its President Md Lal Mia, expressed frustration over the government's failure to address their long-standing demands for nationalisation and pension rights.
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"For decades, we have been promised nationalisation, a benefit enjoyed by other law enforcement agencies," Lal Mia said, adding, "This exclusion results in significantly lower pay, making it nearly impossible to make ends meet."
He highlighted a 1975 notification by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that addressed pay scales for village police, but lamented its lack of implementation.
The absence of pension coverage further compounded the grievances of the village police, he said.
He expressed concern about pressure tactics used to force them into a separate pension scheme, including threats of salary deductions and termination.
Other leaders of the Bangabandhu Adarsh Village Police Force urged the government to reconsider the situation.
They specifically called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other relevant ministers to honour the commitments made by Bangabandhu and implement the long-overdue reforms.
