Stay alert so that Jamaat-Shibir cannot sneak into police: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the authorities concerned to stay alert so that the Jamaat-Shibir activists and those involved in terrorist and militant acts could not be recruited in the police force.

"I hope that the concerned police officials would be more watchful, so that the Jamaat-Shibir activists and those involved in terrorist and militant acts and arson attacks could not sneak into a disciplined force like Bangladesh Police," she said.

Replying to a supplementary from Tariqat Federation chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari (Chittagong-2), the leader of the House said she does not want to make any interference in this regard.

"But it's the duty and responsibility of the police force to look into the matter so that those engaged in terrorist and militant acts and arson attacks, especially during the mayhem unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir in 2013,2014 and 2015, could not be recruited in the police," she said.

The premier suggested the members of parliament to provide information about recruitment of Jamaat-Shibir activists in the police to the intelligence agencies. "Surely they would scrutinize those information and take proper steps," she said.

Sheikh Hasina recalled that the common people including the drivers of bus, CNG and other vehicles and even police could not escape deaths from the petrol bomb attacks and killings of the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir men before and after the January 5 polls and again during the January-March in 2015.

The prime minister said there is a certain policy with guidelines for recruitment of manpower in the police force and the concerned police officials are in charge of it. "They (police officials) should keep in mind that the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir men killed 19 of police members," she said.

Earlier, replying to a starred question from independent lawmaker Md Abul Kalam Azad (Gaibandha-4), the leader of the House informed the parliament that a proposal for creating 50,000 new posts in the police force as part of enhancing its capacity got approval in principle on January 11, 2015.

Some 13,888 posts have been created for various units, she said, adding that rest of the posts would be created in phases in line with the demand.

Out of the newly-created 13,888 posts, she informed that some 7,139 posts have been created for stepping up the security of the Dhaka Metropolitan area, while the activities for appointment in these posts are underway.

Responding to another supplementary from Jatiya party's Fakhrul Imam (Mymensingh-8), the prime minister said 'Joy Bangla Joy Bangabandhu' slogan had inspired the entire nation during the War of Liberation and finally the nation had been able to earn the hard-earned independence defeating the Pakistani force.

Turning to her son ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina said that whatever Joy wants to do in future completely depends on him. "Joy has been helping my government through contributing in various achievements of the country's bid to become Digital Bangladesh. He (Joy) is serving the nation and the country...he would choose his own path,"

Answering to another supplementary from Fazilatunnesa Bappi (women seat-30), Sheikh Hasina said her government has increased the manpower of police in divisional, district, upazila and even union levels, while projects have been taken to address their accommodation problem.

"Steps have already been taken to solve their accommodation problem and those are being implemented," she added.

In this connection, the premier listed various steps of her government in addressing the accommodation problem of police in Rajarbagh and other areas after assuming office in 1996. "Police is playing an important role in maintaining law and order in the country," she said.