Demonstrate friendly attitude to people

SARDA (Rajshahi), Feb 8 (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked each and every member of Bangladesh Police to adopt a friendly attitude towards the people to earn their confidence, saying that the police force must maintain neutrality, accountability and transparency apart from upholding their professional excellence.

She said: "You should be more cordial to women, children and elderly people, and address the public problems with sincerity and compassion."

Sheikh Hasina was delivering a speech at Sarda Police Academy after taking salute at the training completion parade of the trainee assistant superintendents of police of the 31st BCS.

She said that her government considers the budgetary allocation given to the police as an investment to maintain law and order. Highest importance was given to acquisition of modern technology and giving training to the members of the police force.

Sheikh Hasina said all training centres of police including at Sarda are being modernised and police stations across the country would be reformed so that people get better service from those stations.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandakar and Principal of the Police Academy Nayeem Ahmed were, among others, present.

A total of 176 ASPs, including 24 female cadres, passed the course.

The PM distributed medals among the best probationary ASPs and administered their oath. She took salute and inspected the parade. ASP Shahdat Hossain conducted the parade as parade commander.

Among the trainees, Md Atiqul Haque Pradhan received the award of Best Probationer and M Ruhul Amin Sarkar and Shahed Ahmed took award as 'best in academic' and 'best rider' from the premier.

The PM also planted a sapling on the premises of the police academy officers mess and took part in an official photo session with the officers.

The Prime Minister said the government is determined to bring to the book those militants and terrorists who attacked the houses and temples of Hindu community during the national election.

"The joint forces and police personnel were very much active to contain the violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat-Shibir, before and after the election. After that, this communal force attacked the houses and temples of Hindu community. The government is determined to bring these militants-terrorists to book," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government wanted to contain militancy and terrorism with iron hand and the police force took appreciable steps in this connection.

She mentioned that 15 police personnel were killed in the last one year and 3,000 policemen were injured in violence.

"The nation will remember their sacrifice," the PM said, adding that she is praying for their departed soul. She also expressed sympathy to their bereaved family members.

About the trial of the war criminals, Hasina said the implementation of the verdict on war criminals has begun. "We'll repay the debt of blood of the freedom fighters by completing the trial of all war criminals. We'll free the country from stigma."

She said: "Those with anti-democratic and anti-liberation spirit, and communal BNP-Jamaat-Shibir and their associates had unleashed violence to destabilise the country."

"They killed people by hurling petrol bombs, destroyed rail lines and vehicles, and created panic among the people. Their movement became a failure as they had no public support," she added.

The PM said that the people again put their trust on her government.

She said: "The movement to stop the January 5 election by BNP and their local and foreign masters, lobbyists, other beneficiaries and vested professional intellectuals failed as people took part in the election willingly. They upheld the democracy and constitution."

Hasina said that over the last five years, her government has modernised the police force. More than 31,000 new posts including 614 cadre posts were created. Industrial Police, Tourist Police and Navy Police were formed while Police Bureau of Investigation was constituted to improve the inquiry into cases relating to crimes.

In addition, two security and protection battalions were constituted to strengthen security of VIPs and key installations. The status of sub inspector and sergeants were elevated to second class from third class, she said.

The PM mentioned that the IGP Rank badge for police has been reintroduced following the decision of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while the post of the IGP has been upgraded to senior secretary and two grade-2 posts were elevated to grade-1.Highlighting the country's achievements during her government's last tenure, she said country is moving ahead and has now entered the second phase of development. "We want to make Bangladesh pacifist country in South Asia and a model of development."

Hasina extended her sincere thanks to the members of the police force for showing their courage and excellence in seizing 10-truck arms in Chittagong in 2005 during the BNP regime, saying that by doing this the police force had protected the country.

BSS adds: Later, addressing a mammoth public meeting at  Charghat on the day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dubbed BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as the 'queen of destruction" as she said the BNP chief does not know any other politics except destruction.

"Begum Zia is a queen of destruction as she knows only destruction. She can only take but cannot give any thing," Sheikh Hasina said adding that BNP's coming to power means return of terrorism and militancy in the country. "She cannot give anything positive to the country except terrorism and militancy," she said.

Addressing the meeting at Charghat High School Ground the Prime Minister said BNP let out of a reign of terror when it was in power from 2001 to 2006. "They had created a dreadful Bangla Bhai along with widespread militancy in the country during their five-year misrule, she said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam MP, former food minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, former state minister and AL Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former state minister Omar Faruq Chowdhury and former Rajshahi city mayor Kahiruzzaman Liton, among others, addressed the rally. Charghat Upazila Awami League arranged the rally with its president Anwar Hossain in the chair.

While explaining the BNP's political characteristics, the Prime Minister said the character of this particular party always remains the same since its birth. The adage "koila dhuileo moila jai na" (black will take no other hue) suits best with the character of BNP, she observed.