Cops want land, a fleet of choppers

Police high-ups yesterday placed before the home minister a host of demands that include land allocation for the force and appointment of police officials to the key posts, including that of the director general, at the passport department.

They also demanded empowerment of superintendents of police to preside over law and order meetings in districts, a fleet of 10 helicopters, financial rewards for recovering narcotics and in-situ promotions for officials with ranks from additional deputy inspector general (DIG) to additional IG.

Over the last few years, the director general of the department of passport has been appointed from the Bangladesh Army on deputation. Previously, officials from the admin and police cadres had held the post.

The police officials made the demands at a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on the second day of the five-day Police Week 2019.

They sought replacement of old vehicles, armoured personnel carriers in every district and allocation of land for setting up schools and colleges for police.

They also demanded overtime allowances for working more than eight hours a day and allowances for traffic policemen in districts and those working at Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

Officials with ranks from SP to DIG attended the meeting at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital.

The home minister said the government is doing whatever necessary to increase the capacity of the police force.

“We will continue to do so in the future,” he added.

Later at a meeting with the finance and land ministers, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said they need land near the capital to set up four dumping stations.

Vehicles seized for violating traffic rules or for not having legal documents will be kept there.

He also demanded 10 acres of land in Keraniganj for the Armed Police Battalion (APBn)-12 tasked with providing security to judges.

In response, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said land would be allocated in Keraniganj for APBn-12.

He also told the police officials to look for suitable places for setting up dumping stations.

MEETING WITH PM

In the morning, top police officials attended a conference with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They placed a set of demands, including appointment of police officials at Bangladesh missions abroad and setting up of special tribunals in all districts for quick disposal of narcotics-related cases, said meeting sources.

At the conference at the Prime Minister's Office, they also demanded that the government increase the number of police units and allocations for projects for the force.

The premier had responded positively to all the demands placed before her on Monday, the opening day of the Police Week.

Yesterday, the DMP commissioner called for creating new police units and increasing manpower in the force, said meeting sources.   

Deputy Inspector General (highway police) Atiqul Islam demanded that police officers be appointed at Bangladesh missions abroad.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon division) Biplob Kumar Sarkar stressed the need for setting up special tribunals at all districts for quick disposal of narcotics-related cases.

“If it takes a long time to compete trial of a narcotics-related case, evidence in such case is damaged and witnesses often cannot be found,” Biplob told the conference.

Rajbari SP Asma Siddika Mily demanded an increase in development budget allocation for police.

She said that though development projects are approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), funds are not disbursed timely, resulting in delay in implementation of the projects.

The premier said police personnel should be appointed at missions abroad to look into crimes such as money laundering, smuggling of drugs, and do the task of issuing police clearance to Bangladesh expatriates, according to the sources.

She also said manpower would be increased at various units of the police so that people can get the desired services.

The PM mentioned that her government is setting up 100 special economic zones where specialised industrial police will be deployed.

Besides, steps will be taken to establish a specialised training institute for the police, she added.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh called upon the police to discharge duties without fear and favour showing respect for the law.

The people concerned have to be sincere so that the law enforcement agencies are not made controversial under any circumstances, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said in a statement yesterday.