Tackling Rumour: New police unit in the offing: IGP

Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary yesterday said they would soon launch a new unit to prevent spread of rumours on social media.

Formation of the cyber crime unit is almost at the final stage. It will come into operation once it gets the clearance from the finance ministry, he said.

The IGP was talking to reporters after a prize giving ceremony following the final match of Bangladesh Police Cricket Championship (IGP Cup) at the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) field in Uttara.

According to sources at the police headquarters, the 505-strong fully-fledged specialised unit -- Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau -- has already been approved by the home ministry.

The police boss further said they have also formed a coordination cell at the police headquarters to monitor the cyber crimes-related cases.

“The coordination cell will monitor activities of all police units and keep us updated and informed continuously about the ongoing situations so that no one is able to cause deterioration in law and order by spreading rumours,” the IGP said.

“Recently, we have noticed a rumour spread in the garment sector that two to three workers were killed and two others were missing. Locals locked into a clash centring the rumour later,” he added.

On September 23, garment workers of Knit and Knitex Private Ltd blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for around five hours at Chhoydana Degerchala in Gazipur, demanding arrears. During the demonstration, a rumour spread that several garment workers died as the factory provided them with unsafe drinking water.

Police finally drove the agitated workers away and brought the situation under control.

“We remain cautious so that no one can cause deterioration in law and order in the upcoming days by spreading rumours,” said the police chief.

Asked whether they were thinking about any upcoming challenge, he said the cyber world has become a bigger challenge for the entire world. “We have the workforce and we are preparing them by providing special training from abroad so that we can deal with the cyber crimes,” he added.

Earlier in the morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Police cricket team clinched the title of the IGP Cup for the fifth time defeating APBn in the tournament organised by Bangladesh Police Cricket Club. The APBn side scored 135 in 20 overs. The target was achieved in 19.2 overs losing only four wickets.

Habibur Rahman, DIG at PHQ, also the president of Bangladesh Police Cricket Club, presided over the prize giving ceremony.