The Cabinet approved on Monday the draft of 'Gazipur Metropolitan Police Bill, 2017' and 'Rangpur Metropolitan Police Bill, 2017' empowering the police forces of the two metropolitan areas to fine up to Tk 5,000 for violation of laws, reports UNB.
The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Prime Minister's Office in the city with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the formation of the two metropolitan police forces has become a necessity following the establishment of Gazipur and Rangpur city corporations respectively.
"These two draft laws have been formulated in light of the existing Sylhet Metropolitan Police Act, 2009 and Barisal Metropolitan Police Act, 2009," Alam said adding that the proposed drafts are prototype laws.
About the common responsibilities of the police officers, the cabinet secretary said they would have to enforce orders of the competent authority, apply full power of the police officers concerned to prevent or resist any possible criminal offence and resist all public nuisances.
About the punishment under the draft laws, Alam said, police officials are empowered to impose fine in many cases for violation of the proposed acts.
He said the two metropolitan police forces will be empowered to fine from Tk 2,000 up to Tk 5,000 for violation of traffic rules, creating obstacles to movement of vehicles and common people, creating disturbance by loading or unloading of goods to or from vehicles parking those at unauthorised places.
"Similar punishment will also be imposed by the metropolitan police for driving vehicles on wrong sides of roads in these two city corporation areas," Alam added.
Besides, any person stalking women and girls at public places like shopping malls, markets, roads or other places, would have to face one year's jail or minimum Tk 5,000 and maximum Tk 10,000 as fine or both the punishment.
"In this case, judicial court concerned or magistrate will impose the punishment," the Cabinet Secretary said.
He added that the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court will accomplish the job of awarding punishment until the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court is established.
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