Lowly-paid village police leading subhuman life in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, Feb 28: Lowly-paid members of village police in Jhenidah are leading subhuman life with no affordability to educate their children and as well as buy daily necessities for the families.
Six hundred and forty members of village police, including 67 Dafadars are working under 67 Union Parishads (UP) in six upazilas of the district. They are paid a nominal allowance every month. A Chowkidar gets only Tk 1900 per month, of which Tk 1100 is given by the government and Tk 800 by UP, while a Dafadar draws Tk 2100 - Tk 1300 from the government and Tk 800 from UP.
Village police have to perform a large volume of activities. They do their duty at the councils and thanas at day time and safeguard the union council buildings at night, collect tax and help the law-enforcing agency in thanas. They serve notices from UPs and thanas to people in their respective villages. Besides, the neglected community plays a vital role during various natural calamities in the district.
Mokaddes (28), a Dafadar at Bakchua village in Harianakundu Upazila told the FE that they were entrusted with various duties, including carrying tea from shops, but they do not have the ability to buy the drink for themselves.
Siraj Uddin, a sexagenarian Dafadar from Rishkhali village said, "My life from youth has been dedicated to the profession but unfortunately without due reward."
Ratna Rani, a female Chowkidar of Harishankarpur union under Jhenidah Sadar Upazila told this correspondent they were to be present at the upazila premises every Monday alongside executing the duties imposed on them. However, they have virtually no financial solvency in their families.
Md. Anisur Rahman, secretary of district committee, village police, Jhenidah and Joint Secretary of the Central Committee said the Chowkidars, and Dafadars are going through financial hardship as they find it too hard to manage two meals a day and meet the other expenses.
Shafiqul Islam, DC Jhenidah said village police can play a vital role in maintaining law and order situation by informing the law-enforcers of the different things including the movement of the criminals as the community move around every nook and corner of the district.
The village police community in the district urged the government to fulfil their demands, including access to the national pay scale and other facilities.
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