Urging all to stand against the enemies of country’s development and to cooperate with police in uprooting terrorism, subversive activities and militancy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday warned of harsh punishment to those who will join hands with the militants and criminals.
“Those who will join hands with the militants and criminals will get harsh punishment no matter what is their status… offenders won’t be spared,” she said, inaugurating the Police Week-2014 at a function at the Rajarbagh Police Lines in the city.
The Prime Minister distributed Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) –- both in two categories, services and bravery, to 105 members of police forces — for their outstanding contributions in 2013.Sheikh Hasina also witnessed a parade of smartly turned out contingents of Bangladesh Police comprising its various units. She also inspected the parade riding an open jeep and later took salute.
The Prime Minister said no country could prosper if there is no continuation of democracy, which is the precondition of development.
In this connection, she thanked the people and also the law enforcement agencies for whom the country has survived from the clutches of the evil forces and “we’ve been able to maintain the continuity of democracy,”
Mentioning that police is the chief refuge of the peace-loving people, Hasina underscored the need for turning every police station and outpost into a real shelter for the people.
She said: “Members of the police force must work with the mentality of giving highest level of services to the people. No negligence in this regard will be tolerated.”
The PM said that the government would repair and renovate the police stations so that the police can stand beside the people as their friends, can address their problems humanely and with sincerity, and also ensure peaceful life for the rural people.
She said the present government is putting emphasis on training, as the militants and terrorists are using modern technology including computer in committing crimes.
Hasina said that apart from stopping burglary, robbery and killing, the police force would have to combat cyber crimes, money laundering, drugs trafficking, smuggling, women and children trafficking as well as protecting marine and forest resources and environment.
“For this, there is a need for maintaining peace and security in the country and the government is building the police in that way. The police force will be built in a proper way to deal with various crimes,” she added.
Again outlining her government’s vision to build Bangladesh into a middle-income country through Vision 2021 and a developed country through Vision 2041, the Prime Minister said the role of police is very much important for maintaining peace, security and discipline.
“Every citizen of the country will have to be conscious and cooperate with police in uprooting terrorism, subversive activities and militancy. All will have to stand against those who are the enemies of the country’s development.”
Terming Bangladesh Police as the symbol of peace, security and discipline, she said that the anti-democracy and anti-liberation communal forces, Jamaat-Shibir and their cohorts, were engaged to push Bangladesh into an unstable situation.
Hasina said that their militant and terrorist outfits were engaged in sabotage and destructive activities in the name of hartals and blockades as they had started hatching conspiracy to eliminate the spirit of the war of liberation from the country.
But, she said, the members of police force along with the people are discharging their duties sincerely through relentless efforts to maintain law and order.
She mentioned that the police force have restored confidence and a sense of relief among the people, by working sincerely in protecting their life and property while about 16 members of police sacrificed their lives and many others were injured in discharging their duties in the recent times.
Conveying deep sympathy to the family members of the victims, the Prime Minister reiterated her commitment to extend all possible assistance for their overall wellbeing.
She also thanked the members of police alongside other law enforcement agencies for discharging their duties with utmost efficiency and sincerity for smooth holding of the 10th parliamentary elections for the continuity of the progress of democracy.
Hasina said that after assuming the office in 2009, her government has undertaken measures to turn the police into a modern, dynamic, time- befitting and people-friendly force, and has implemented multifaceted programs to this end.
She said that over 30,833 posts including 614 cadre posts have already been created which increased capability of police and scope of their promotions.
The government has formed industrial police, Bureau of Investigation, tourist police, marine police, and two security and protection battalions, she said, adding that the people of all strata are getting fruits of these steps.
Apart from implementing development projects involving about Tk 3000 crore, the Prime Minister said this will continue as the government considers allocation of fund towards ensuring law and order as investment.
She assured of further increasing the manpower of police force alongside modernization of the force for combating newer challenges of security and crimes. She said that the overall capability of the police force would be increased through ongoing recruitment of new manpower.
Hasina said the government has taken the initiative of forming Police Bureau of Counter Terrorism to eliminate any sort of subversive activities, terrorism, and militancy.
She alleged that the local and foreign evil forces are still active to hinder the development of the country.
Earlier, on her arrival at the Rajarbagh Police Lines ground, the Prime Minister was received by State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khondoker and additional IGP Shahidul Haque. – UNB
