Bangladesh Police has been praised for going out of their way to provide services to the people during the coronavirus pandemic, and the force’s high officials want to continue this trend in future as well.
That is why police headquarters have taken some steps to get rid of the bad reputation earned by the police force due to some members’ involvement in unlawful activities.
There is a common rumour that in different police stations across the country, there is a practice of giving bribes of lakhs of taka to seniors for getting promotions. That makes the policemen desperate to make money, even through unlawful ways.
However, the police think that drugs are at the root of all crimes in the country at the moment. And some policemen are directly or indirectly involved in the sale, supply of drugs, and bribery.
So, as the first step of the clean-up initiative the top officials want to identify the police members who are involved in crimes and make sure they are punished.
Strict actions against corrupt police members
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has suspended a total of 20 police members of Tejgaon police station, Tejgaon Industrial police station, and Adabar police station in connection with selling drugs.
Earlier on June 28, Tejgaon police division had conducted a special drive in connection to illegal drugs being circulated at the railway side slums of Tejgaon and held 20 drug dealers.
During interrogation, the arrestees disclosed that some policemen including sub-inspector and constables of Tejgaon and Industrial police are collecting extortion money from them weekly.
DMP headquarters took action against them by sentencing temporary suspensions.
‘Any part affected with cancer is to be cut and removed’
On July 4, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Dr Benazir Ahmed said to his force members that the way the police served the people during the Covid-19 pandemic — most of it was not their job.
“The police force has changed in the last three months; we must retain this honour in future as well,” said the police chief at a special meeting on crime, law and order held at Rajarbagh Police Auditorium.
Earlier, Benazir Ahmed told the field police officers referring to the context of cancer treatment that if a person is infected with cancer, the affected part is to be cut and removed. If any member of the police is involved in drugs and corruption he will also be ruthlessly removed from the force. No mercy will be shown in this regard.
Steps toward a better regime
DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam recently sent a letter to every deputy commissioner’s (DC) office in his jurisdiction. The letters say that all police members should be briefed on the harmful aspects of drugs by the DC. Everyone should be asked to follow the instructions of the IGP to eradicate drugs.
It further added that if a policeman is involved in drug trading, action will be taken against him after he is identified and others should be warned.
The commissioner’s letters warned that failure to control or take action against the unethical behaviour of the force’s junior members and failure to report the required information to the superiors would be considered as a failure of the unit in-charges [officer in-charge (OC) , zonal assistant commissioner (AC), additional deputy commissioner (ADC) and deputy commissioner (DC)].
DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told Dhaka Tribune that anti-drug operations are a routine work of the police, yet drugs are being sold.
“We want to eradicate drugs and I will do whatever I need to do that,” he added.
An official of DMP Headquarters said that even before the coronavirus, monthly performances of the police station or crime divisions (DC office) were calculated on the basis of how many cases were registered and how many cases were investigated in the area.
He said: “From now on that will slightly change. In this case, [we will check]how many drug dens are there in the police station areas, how successful are the police in eradicating them? Performance will depend on whether or not they are involved in drug eradication.”
Besides, if general people are harassed and forced to pay bribes to get police services in any police station, those issues will not be waived, he added.
Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, ex inspector general of Police and Bangladesh ambassador to Spain, told Dhaka Tribune: "If any policeman is involved in illegal drugs, action can be taken against him in two ways, departmental and through criminal court. He is a criminal by law.”
He added: “Everyone from the head of the government is talking about zero tolerance against drugs or corruption. It is certainly a matter of hope.”