In the wake of volatile politics, police high-ups yesterday demanded that the number of police forces be increased to maintain law and order situation across the country.
They also suggested recruiting 50,000 more forces within the next five years, said sources in the police department.
The demand came at the first meeting of the newly appointed State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal with the top-ranking police officials during his first visit to the Police Headquarters yesterday.
The police high-ups demanded to increase personnel to 2, 00,000 from its existing 1, 54,889.
They also urged the new home boss to hike the number up to 80 from 40 for each police station, said a source in the meeting.
It said the police officials stressed reinforcements considering the unstable political situation across the country.
The police officials also called upon the new state minister for home to implement the proposed “Police Division” and “Counter Terrorism Bureau” separately.
Besides, they demanded creation of more posts of additional inspector general of police from the existing nine and of the deputy inspector general.
Seeking anonymity, a police official at the meeting said the high-ranking police officers expressed their frustration over a small number of forces working for the Railway Police Department to keep its 2,800-kilometre rail line secure.
Accordingly, they also called for an increase in the number of forces for the Highway Police Unit.
At the meeting, Additional Deputy Inspector General of police Hasanul Haider described the history of the police department, its existing condition, and future planning.
Inspector General of police Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Additional IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, Special Branch Chief Zaved Patwari, Rapid Action Battalion Director General Mokhlesur Rahman, among other high-ups of different units of police, spoke at the meeting.
At the meeting, they thanked the government for providing them with various facilities during its last tenure.
In his address, the state minister for home told the police officials he was not aware of everything related to the police department, but said he would discuss their demands with the prime minister and try to take necessary steps.
