The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Home on Wednesday said the police do not provide actual figures on crimes, thereby blocking lawmakers’ attempts to be more accountable.
MPs criticised the police for placing the same reports at every meeting of the parliamentary watchdog in relation to six sensational cases.
Shofiqul Islam, Awami League MP of Jhenaidah-2 raised the issue at the meeting, where it was decided to summon the investigating officers of the six cases to the next meeting.
The standing committee has asked the home ministry in every meeting about progress on the cases, and the police have always responded with “no progress.”
The cases in question are Damodor Union Parishad chairman’s murder in Khulna (August 17, 2010), train accident at the opposition leader’s meeting in Sirajganj (October 11, 2010), Selima Khan Majlish’s murder in Savar (June 15, 2011), Sagor-Runi murder (February 12, 2012), police constable Khokon Chandra Roy’s murder in Jhalkathi (July 19, 2012) and arson at MC college in Sylhet.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir did not attend the meeting which was chaired by committee chairman Sayedul Haque but state minister for home affairs Shamsul HoqueTuku was present.
“In every meeting, the police have placed the same report stating “no progress” on investigations in the six sensational murder cases. So, we have decided to summon the investigation officers to our next meeting,” Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune afterwards.
Reading the crime figures from the ministry’s working paper, MP Shofiqul Islam said: “We almost always see the numbers are the same, with no fluctuations. How can it be we see the same trend for years?”
He gave examples citing how the number of robberies in June was 58 and 57 in May, and similar numbers are quoted for other crimes as well.
“Why does it not go upto 100 or decline?” he asked but police officials at the meeting were unable to provide satisfactory answers.
“We have observed the police are not providing us with the actual picture, instead the reports claim crime rates are stable,” said MP Mujibul Haque, and added: “At the next meeting we will quiz investigative officers of the six sensational cases.”
The next meeting’s date is not confirmed.