Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the new officials of the police cadre to put in their best efforts to protect the fundamental and human rights of people while discharging their duties for ensuring the overall welfare of the country and its people.

"It's my firm belief the young police officials will be engaged in ensuring the overall welfare of people and the country's development with their acquired knowledge, discipline, professionalism, honesty and integrity," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the passing-out parade of the 34th BCS batch of assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) at the Bangladesh Police Academy at Sarda in the morning.

Sheikh Hasina directed the new ASPs to uphold the glorious role of the members of the Bangladesh Police played during the Great War of Liberation and to work following the path of their predecessors with patriotism, professionalism and unbound bravery.

She took salute, inspected the parade and distributed medals among the best probationary ASPs.

A total of 150 ASPs, including 26 female ones, passed the course.

The Prime Minister distributed medals among the best police officers of the course.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque and Principal of the academy Additional Inspector General Md Nazibur Rahman were, among others, present.

"We're working to attain economic emancipation. Law and order must be maintained for ensuring the economic emancipation for any country while maintaining law and order is a precondition to ensure economic development. So, we're putting in our all-out efforts to build our police force as a time-befitting one despite our resource constraint," she added.

Hasina said there is no need to raise demands before her government for the development and progress of Bangladesh Police. "In many cases, I take necessary steps on my own initiative. We've a plan to develop the police force so that it can move forward keeping pace with the world."

Asserting that her government is firm to establish a smart, professional, skilled and people-friendly police service to fulfill the expectations of the country's people, Hasina said the government has been implementing various programmes for the development of century-old Sarda Police Academy, known as the 'home of police'.

She said a decision has already been taken to allocate additional 100 acres of khas land adjacent to the Academy along the Padma River to ensure proper training of the new officials of the police cadre.

"Bangladesh Police Academy, Sarda is being built as 'Center of Excellence'. For this, we're continuing reorganising its organogram, increasing manpower and the supply of necessary vehicles, equipment and logistics."

The Prime Minister mentioned that modern classrooms, computer labs, language lab, forensic demonstration lab, driving and shooting simulator are playing a supporting role in providing time-befitting training. Besides, the present government has established the Police Staff College to provide modern training to senior police officials.

Noting that the continued success of Bangladesh Police in combating militancy is not only recognised at home, but also in the international arena, Hasina said her government is going on with a 'zero-tolerance' policy against terrorism and militancy.

She extended her heartfelt thanks to those martyred members of the police and intelligence agencies who have died in various anti-militant drives.

Listing various steps taken by her government for the development of Bangladesh Police force after the December 29, 2008 election, she said some 739 posts have been created in various cadres in the organogram of police, some 42,225 posts created against the already announced 50,000 posts, while formation of 'Counter Terrorism Unit' is at the final stage. Steps have also been taken to form 'Guard and protection police' to beef up security at important installations and to important persons in addition to establishing 30 in-service training centers across the country, Hasina added.

ASP Probationer Swandip Sarker conducted the parade as parade commander while Probationer ASP Imar Uddin was its second-in-command.

Among the trainees, Sandeep Sarker received the award of 'Best Probationer' while Mashukur Rahman got the award of 'Best Academic' and Md Belal Hossain the award of the 'Best Horsemanship' from the Prime Minister.