More than 10,000 policemen were punished for various offences last year alone. Seventy-six of them – ranking between constables and inspectors – were penalised for criminal offences, data revealed by the police headquarters showed.
It pointed to a stark rise in policemen getting involved in crimes including rape, torture, extortion and murder. In most cases, the victims said they chose to keep silent, fearing further hassle by police. Some of them claimed the accused went scot-free as their department preferred to overlook the allegations.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Najrul Islam said that was not the case. “Police are required to adhere to strict rules. They are punished if they do not follow them. That’s how it works.”
On Saturday night, policemen stopped Bangladesh Bank official Golam Rabbani at Mohammadpur. Sub-Inspector Masud Sikder of Mohammadpur police station allegedly tortured him and demanded Tk5 lakh as ransom. He also threatened to kill Rabbani when the banker refused to pay.
Rabbani claimed that the policemen had also snatched his wallet. SI Masud was withdrawn on Monday after Rabbani filed a written complaint against him.
Ashfikur Rahman, who works with a private firm, said he was victim of a similar incident on January 2. He was picked up by police, who were not wearing nameplates, in Jatrabari. One of the policemen, presumably an SI, allegedly took away Ashfikur’s wallet.
The police van stopped at an isolated place where the policemen demanded Tk10,000 from Ashfikur and threatened to kill him in ‘crossfire’ otherwise, he claimed. Ashfikur said he contacted his family who negotiated his release for Tk5,000.
Rights activist Alina Khan told the Dhaka tribune that such allegations created a negative image of police. “Most victims chose not to come forward out of fear and further harassment,” she claimed.
Recently, Rupnagar trader Samsul Huda claimed Assistant Sub-Inspector M Selim H Khan and ASI Asad of local police station had demanded Tk5 lakh from him on January 9, threatening to implicate him in a false case. Rupnagar police allegedly refused to lodge his complaint against its officers. Shamsul then wrote to police’s Mirpur Division deputy commissioner.
Police investigate allegations against their members in most cases. The victims claimed the investigations were partial and that the accused were let off in most cases. AIG Najrul rejected the allegations. “We show zero-tolerance if we find any of our members involved in crimes.”
On June 14 last year, a woman accused her ex-husband ASI Mosharof Hossain of raping her. On June 10, ASI Kalimur of Khilgaon police station was accused of raping a woman. Former OC Rafiqul Islam, who died in jail, was convicted of murdering Dhaka Commerce College student Kamrul Islam Momin.
Prof Zia Rahman, chairman of criminology at Dhaka University, said letting go of accused policemen encouraged the offenders. “Crimes by policemen are on the rise as those responsible are not being punished,” he claimed.
A senior police officer, who declined to be named, said: “We don’t spare our officials involved in crimes contrary to what the people believe. They are punished as per law.”
The officer said if a policeman was found guilty of murder, he would be punished by the court. For other offences, police open internal investigations. If the accused is found guilty, he is subjected to various punishments including demotion.
“Bangladesh police is an institution. Yes, we have some dishonest officials [who get involved in crimes and other offences] but that does not mean all are alike,” he added.