Uphold democracy, discharge duties with professionalism: PM Hasina to police

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked police personnel to discharge their duties with the utmost professionalism and uphold democracy in the country apart from maintaining peace and stability.

"I believe every police personnel will perform his or her duties with professionalism to maintain peace and stability in the country and uphold democracy through pro-people policing," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating Police Week 2022 -- from January 23 to 27 -- with the theme "Skilled Police, Prosperous Country, Bangabandhu's Bangladesh."

The programme was held at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital while the prime minister joined it virtually from her official Ganobhaban residence.

The premier said that the long 24 years of struggle of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the win in the Liberation War in 1971 has brought this independence for the country

"You [the police] have to protect the country's independence from all kinds of blows as it came in lieu of your predecessors' blood," she said.

On behalf of the prime minister, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inspected the parade and took the salute

He also distributed the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) awards among the winners on behalf of the prime minister.

This year, as per the Public Security Division's Police Wing-2 of the Ministry of Home Affairs' notification, Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) awards were given for outstanding work in 2020 and 2021.

Around 115 police officials got awards for each year.

Fifteen of them will receive the BPM-gallantry and 25 the PPM-gallantry awards for their courageous and heroic activities in 2020.

Besides, 25 personnel will get the BPM-Service and 50 the PPM-Service awards for their outstanding performances in unearthing the mystery of important cases and controlling crimes and for commendable contributions with skills, piety, integrity, and disciplinary behaviour.

In 2021, another 115 members of the police and RAB have been selected for the prestigious BPMs and PPMs for their outstanding performances in 2021.

Of the awardees, 15 will receive the BPM-gallantry, 25 the PPM-gallantry, 25 the BPM-Service, and 50 the PPM-Service awards.

The last police week was held in 2019. The Police Week did not take place in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic thus medals for both years were awarded together today.

The prime minister said that the government is providing all the required modern facilities and transports like helicopters alongside modern training to render quick services to people.

Describing various measures taken by the Awami League government for the overall development, she said they have raised facilities regarding housing, ration, healthcare, providing training, and supplying necessary vehicles and other equipment. 

Returning to power in 2009, she said the government has created 82,583 new posts in the police force alongside forming special police units like tourist police, industrial police, the PBI, anti-terrorism, counterterrorism, and transnational crime.

The premier said the government has also established Rangpur and Mymensingh ranges, one armed police battalion at airport and two armed police battalions in Cox's Bazar, three battalions for RAB, 30-in-service training centres, 62 police stations, 95 investigation centres, one police outpost and 999-unit after forming government in 2009.

She said the Awami League has reintroduced a rank badge for the IGP and created two posts for grade-1 and 11 for grade-2, 52 DIG, 159 additional DIG, 402 police supers, and 800 for additional police supers. 

Hasina said the government has promoted 215 additional police supers to police supers, 253 senior assistant police supers to additional SPs, and made the posts of sub-inspectors and sergeants to second grade from third grade while the posts of inspectors were made first class from second class. 

The prime minister thanked police personnel for their successes in controlling the BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violence, sabotage, and arson attacks to kill innocent people and destroy the state property recalling the deaths of police personnel in the attacks. 

She said the police force responded quickly to the people's calls through the 999 service that created confidence and belief in the police force as they are working accordingly.

Referring to the influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh, she said the police are playing a praiseworthy role in providing shelters and security to the huge number of refugees.

The prime minister reiterated her commitment to transforming Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman maintaining the status of a developing nation, calling upon the police to continue their efforts to materialise the Vision-2041.