Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the police members to be the servants of people facing all the challenges and stand by the helpless as their trusted friends.

The police should do so, so that people could have their confidence in the force, she told the inaugural function of Bangladesh Police Week 2016 at Rajarbagh Police Lines.

The cops' working areas are expanding every moment, she said. “The police force has to play its due role in containing cyber crimes, money laundering, drug smuggling, goods smuggling, children and women trafficking alongside containing the incidents of theft, dacoity, murder and killing.”

The police's role is very important in protecting wet and forest land and environment, added the PM.

She said the police were contributing a lot towards the country's development. “If the law and order does not remain under control, it is not possible to achieve the socioeconomic development in the country.”

Hasina directed the police to discharge their duties with highest patriotism to maintain law and order, peace, discipline and development trend.

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Thanking the force for its special role in combating terrorism and militancy, she said a process was underway to establish a specialised unit to enhance police's capacity to combat terrorism and militancy.

She elaborated the measures taken by the government for the development of the force. The PM said the number of current manpower of Bangladesh Police is over 1.50 lakh. “We want to make the force even stronger and as part of that process we have decided to recruit another 50,000 to the force.”

She said the police have been playing a laudable role in tackling all the national problems, including resisting destructive and subversive activities of “BNP-Jamaat-Shibir nexus”, fighting militancy, holding trials of war criminals and the 10th Jatiya Sangsad elections.

Pointing out that the police earned widespread appreciation in UN peacekeeping missions through their efficiency and professionalism, Hasina said necessary steps would be taken to infuse greater dynamism into its activities in the peace missions.

The premier handed over Bangladesh Police Medal and President Police Medal to 102 cops in four categories for their bravery and heroism in their services during the last one year.

Earlier, the PM inspected a parade of different contingents of the police and took salute.