Japanese envoy's comment baseless: BPSA
Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) rejected the Japanese ambassador's recent comments about police allegedly stuffing ballot boxes during elections, and requested that he withdraw that part of his speech.
In a statement issued today, the BPSA said the allegation raised by Ito Naoki, the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, is baseless and unwarranted.
"Every member of the Bangladesh Police is deeply embarrassed and shocked by his comments. Bangladesh Police Service Association strongly condemned his statement," said the statement signed by BPSA President Monirul Islam, also chief of special branch of police, and BPSA General Secretary Md Asaduzzaman, also superintendent of police in Dhaka District.
On Monday, Ambassador Naoki said he heard about the example of "ballot box stuffing" and some police officers stuffed the ballot box the night before the election.
"I heard that there were incidents of ballot stuffing in the last election. Police officers were reported to have stuffed ballot boxes the night before election day," he said.
"I've never heard this in any other country. Such incidents should never be repeated," he remarked while speaking at an event titled "Meet the Ambassador" held in a Dhaka hotel.
In today's statement, BPSA said, "The real information regarding the role of Bangladesh Police in the election is that Bangladesh Police provides law and order and polling station security during the election as per the instructions of the Election Commission. The police have no role or function in the candidate selection process of the voters or in the voting inside the polling stations.
"Bangladesh Police provides assistance in conducting fair elections as per the instructions of the Election Commission with utmost professionalism in all elections. Such a statement by the honourable Japanese ambassador about a professional force like Bangladesh Police is unwelcome and unexpected," it added.
BPSA further said Japan is a true friend and a big development partner of Bangladesh. Historically, Bangladesh has maintained deep economic and diplomatic relations with Japan.
But Naoki's recent comments have disappointed every member of the Bangladesh Police and created confusion in the public mind. In view of this comment, the Bangladesh Police Service Association is requesting the withdrawal of the said part of his speech," added the statement.