A female commander, first ever in the country, has led a parade in The Police Week 2016.
Chandpur Superintendent of Police Shamsunnahar became part of the history on Tuesday with the task. Earlier in 2008, she led a parade as deputy commander while such trend was prevalent in the force.
Shamsun Nahar joined police through 20th BCS examinations.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the four-day programme on Rajarbagh Police Lines ground in the morning and she took salute in the annual parade of 13 contingents of police forces.
Addressing the event PM said her government has created 738 cadre and 32,031 posts in the force last seven years. She honoured 102 police officers with Bravery Padak.
The PM also said: “We have decided to create 50,000 posts more in the police force.”
Later, she handed over awards in four categories to 102 police members, including police officers, for their outstanding performance in 2015.
The police members are getting the awards at a time when several members of the force have been suspended or closed for allegedly harassing civilians, including government employees.
The 102 police officers and constables were awarded with Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) for their bravery and heroism in their services in last one year.
Of the policemen, 19 got the BPM award and 40 received the PPM award, 23 got BPM-Service award and 40 others got PPM-service award.
Earlier on Monday, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lauded the role of the members of Bangladesh Police in ensuring law and order and greeted them on the eve of Police Week 2016.
In separate messages, they wished a success of the Police Week.
Recalling the martyrs of Bangladesh Police, who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation, President Abdul Hamid said it is the police, who first put up armed resistance at Razarbagh Police Lines on March 26, 1971, responding to the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The president also recalled the sacrifices of the police members on duty who were killed, injured or crippled.
He said the role of police in a developing country like Bangladesh is very important for continuation of development.
Abdul Hamid appreciated the successes of the police force in resisting militancy and terrorism in the past and preventing violence and maintaining discipline and public safety in recent times.
The president also appreciated the role of the members of Bangladesh Police in establishing peace in different war-torn countries under the UN peace keeping missions.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, paid rich tributes to members of police who made supreme sacrifices for the motherland.
Reiterating different initiatives taken by the present government in modernizing and increasing the ability of the police and programs that have already been implemented in this regard, the Prime Minister said the people are reaping the benefits of the programs.
She hoped that the police force will work relentlessly for implementation of "Vision-2021" and "Vision 2041".
Sheikh Hasina also hoped that all members of Bangladesh Police would work imbued with professionalism, human values and neutrality to develop a people-friendly police system in the country.
The Police Week 2016 will conclude on Friday.
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