President Abdul Hamid today urged the police to serve people with honesty and sincerity being imbued with the Liberation War spirit and thus gain their trust.

"Anyone who comes to you to take service shouldn't be harassed. You need to make sure they can avail of necessary services and suggestions. You must keep up efforts to become a service-oriented and people-friendly force by gaining the trust of people - that's the expectation of people."

The president said this at a function marking the 'Police Week -2019' held at Bangabhaban at noon.

"One of the key elements of good governance for the development and progress of the country is the proper enforcement of law. You must continue to play a responsible role to maintain the country's internal security and establish a safe society," he said.

The president further said, "Your main responsibilities are maintaining internal security, protecting people's lives, establishing the rule of law and preventing terrorism and crimes upholding human rights and democratic values."

Hamid said it has to be kept in mind that a new trend of policing activities has started in combination of police, people and technology to face present-day crimes across the globe. "So, in addition to community policing, innovative policing activities should be continued in light of the best practices of modern policing system."

President Hamid said crimes and criminals are no longer limited to the geographical boundary of any particular country. Utilising various facilities of modern technology, organised gangs are being involved in domestic, regional and international crime networks, he said.

"It's very challenging to control and deal with such crimes. Despite this, the professionalism, skill and courage the police members have shown to prevent organised crimes, terrorism, militancy and spread of drug addiction is really commendable. It has brought peace and relief in public life," he said.

"Your success has not only been appreciated in the country but also in the international arena. I firmly believe that you will become more trained and skilled to face new challenges in the future," the president added.

Hamid said the professionalism and success of Bangladesh police in the UN peacekeeping missions is recognised worldwide today. Female police members are also performing their duties successfully in the mission, he added.

He urged the police force to keep up their efforts to uphold the honour achieved in the international arena.

The President mentioned that specialised police units have been formed to make easier the providing of police services and people-friendly ones. Apart from this, various steps, including accommodation, ration, risk allowance and medical facilities, have been taken for their welfare, he said.

Steps have already been taken to establish a scheduled bank named 'Community Bank Bangladesh Limited' for the police. These initiatives of the government will help people get police services in a much easier way, the President said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwari, and senior government officials were also present during the event.

Cabinet members, MPs, senior government officials, leaders of various professional bodies, and members of civil society also attended the function.

Secretaries to the President were also present at the programme.



 

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who declared himself the leader of the opposition in parliament, now wants the status of a deputy prime minister. But such a post does not exist.

The leader of the opposition now enjoys the status of a minister. If it is to be given the deputy prime minister's status, the constitution first needs to be amended to create the post.

“I will request the new government to formulate a law to upgrade the post of the opposition leader to deputy prime minister. I will place the proposal in parliament. I will also speak to the Speaker [of parliament] in this regard,” he said, while talking to reporters after taking oath as an MP at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath at her office in parliament yesterday.

Ershad has been elected MP from Rangpur-3.

Twenty-two JP MPs-elect, except Ershad, took the oath as lawmakers of the 11th parliament on January 3. The JP chief could not take the oath due to illness.

After taking the oath yesterday, Ershad went to the room designated for the leader of the opposition at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Sitting on the chair of the opposition leader, he told reporters that he was proud of taking oath as the opposition leader.

The former military ruler said he would request the government to elect the deputy speaker from the opposition MPs.

Ershad, who grabbed the state power in March 1982 by ousting the elected government of President Justice Abdus Sattar, said he would also request the government to upgrade the post of the opposition whip.

He said he would also urge the government to appoint more opposition MPs as chiefs of different parliamentary standing committees.

“We want to play the role of a strong opposition party in parliament. We will play our role following the rules of procedure in parliament. We will not boycott the parliament like the previous opposition parties,” he said.

JP Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga told reporters that Ershad would be the first male in the last 27 to act as the leader of the opposition.

Just a day after the JP Parliamentary Party decided to join the Awami League-led grand alliance government, Ershad on January 4 came up with a completely opposite decision.

The JP chairman in a statement announced that his party would be the main opposition in parliament with no representation in the new cabinet.

Ershad, who was forced to step down from the president post following a mass movement in December 1990, also announced that he would act as the leader of the opposition and his younger brother and JP co-chairman GM Quader would be the deputy leader of the opposition.

Talking to this newspaper, several JP lawmakers termed Ershad's decision funny and arbitrary.

Earlier on January 3, JP Parliamentary Party unanimously decided that since JP contested the election under the banner of the AL-led grand alliance, they would join the government.

Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said Speaker Shirin Sharmin has yet to take measures to recognise Ershad as the opposition leader.

Ershad's wife, Raushan Ershad, was the leader of the opposition in the 10th parliament.

In the December 30 polls, the AL-led grand alliance secured 288 seats. JP, a key component of the alliance, bagged 22.

The BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront managed to win only seven seats, while independent candidates got three.

The election in Gaibandha-3 was rescheduled for January 27 following the death of a candidate, and re-polling will take place at three centres in Brahmanbaria-2 on January 9.

The JP became the main opposition in the 10th parliament formed after the 2014 election, which was boycotted by the BNP-led alliance.

The JP in that election won 34 seats and its senior leader Raushan Ershad was recognised as the leader of the opposition. Three JP MPs were also made ministers.

Their dual role has been criticised. The party could not play its due role as the main opposition in parliament in the last five years.