Bangladesh Police has awarded its 25 officials for their bravery in arresting miscreants red-handed while the latter were reportedly preparing for arson attacks during the recent countrywide blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque handed over Tk5.50 lakh to the officials from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Narayanganj district at a function in the conference room of the Police Headquarter in the capital yesterday.
“We are awarding the officials from DMP and Narayanganj district for their bravery so that other officials across the country are encouraged to do so,” Shahidul Haque said.
Police officials are doing their duties for 24 hours a day in risky situations due to petrol bomb and crude bomb attacks in the last 40 days, he said.
An official was killed and many officials were injured in such attacks, the IGP said.
The police chief said the arsonists, who were caught red-handed by the police, are either leaders and activists of BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, its youth wing Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal; and Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir or people hired by them.
The arrestees have confessed to their involvements and revealed their political identities during investigations, he said.
Responding to a question regarding allegation of bribery by police officials by using the turmoil political situation, Shahidul Haque said: “Our intelligence agencies are scrutinising the allegations. If any official is found guilty, we will take action against them.”
The IGP also lauded the bravery a female cop named Farida Khanam who alone caught two alleged pickets with petrol bombs from Fatullah in Narayanganj on Wednesday night last.
The officials from DMP who were given award are: Ramna police station Inspector (investigation) Mohammad Ali Hossain, Constables Siddiqur Rahman and Sonahor Ali; Bangshal police station Sub-Inspectors Moktar Hossain, Jahid Ali, and Assistant Sub-Inspectors Ijarot Hossain and Milon Mollah; Badda police station Sub-Inspector Akhtaruzzaman Sarker, Constables M Kamal Uddin, M Arju Miah, and M Lutfor Rahman; Wari police station Sub-Inspector M Jalal Uddin; Jatrabari police station Sub-Inspector Rasel Hossain, DMP Traffic (south) Sargent Tanumoy, Detective Branch (East) Senior Assistant Commissioner Mainul Islam, Detective Branch (south) Senior Assistant Commissioner Hasan Arafat.
Meanwhile, officials from Narayanganj district police are: Fatulla police station Assistant-Sub Inspector Farida Khanam Tagar, Narayanganj district police Assistant Sub-Inspector Al Amin, Constables Shariful, Nure Alam, Abul Hossain, Mabud, Senior Assistant Superintendent Azim-ul-Ahsan, Detective Branch Sub Inspector M Mazharul Islam and Assistant Sub Inspector M Shawkat Imran.
Additional IGP (admin) Mokhlesur Rahman, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah and high official of DMP and Police Headquarters were also present on the occasion.
At least 72 people have been killed in the recent political violence during the blockade and hartals across the country since January 6.
