Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Monday said police showed utmost patience in the sudden attack on them in front of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) Sunday.
“Yesterday [Sunday] we observed that a policeman was found alone in front of the JPC and the protesters started beating him.
“Everyone watched it. Police showed utmost patience,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a function on the occasion of Police Memorial Day 2021 at Police Staff College.
The minister said police never entered into the press club but some activists hurled brickbats upon police and subsequently, one or two policemen entered the JPC.
“The police have dealt the situation with the highest patience,” Kamal added.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed presided over the program.
“Police are working as a regulator to implement the government’s vision with secured development. The police force is not only working to maintain law and order, but also to eliminate militancy,” Kamal said.
“Police got injured during the militant outbreak. We saw a scenario in an anti-militant operation in Rajshahi, but also saw the same in front of JPC yesterday [Sunday],” added the minister.
He said that a great number of police officials die every year while performing their professional duties.
In 2020, total 457 policemen of different ranks died in different situations, of them 208 have sacrificed their lives while on duty.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of the victims,” Kamal said.
Also Read - Chhatra Dal-police clash: 50 injured including journalist
“The countrymen must feel proud that police set up a unique example for their sincerity and professionalism while carrying out their duties with utmost sacrifice,” he said.
Kamal said police force has been discharging their responsibilities properly as proper law and order and security is the first requirement for Bangladesh as a developing country and police are doing it properly.
The minister said Bangladesh is moving from a least developed country (LDC) to a developed one and the main task is to ensure law and order and security in the country.
“But police are doing it properly. If that work falls on deaf ears, then the development and progress of Bangladesh will be impeded,” he added.
“When we were confused in Covid-19 pandemic, as we didn’t have any antidote for corona virus, when the dead body of a mother who died of corona was not coming to pick up her child from the hospital, it was the police who took the dead body to home and arranged for janaza and burial. Police stood beside helpless people,” he said.
The minister said the present government has always been working for the development of police force, adding, “A circular was issued to pay TK eight lakh at a time to each family member of the police who died on service.
Besides, measures have been taken for a grant of Tk4 lakh for the permanently disabled and retired policemen.”
"Family members of total 26 policemen of various ranks, who were attacked by Jamaat-BNP, Shibir, Hefazat and miscreants from 2013 to 2019, got Tk2.72 crore from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund. Besides, they are also being provided with rations since 2020," the home minister added
