Police seek to end political interference
Under the Awami League government, there has been large-scale irregularities, including transaction of money, in promotions, postings, transfers, appointments, awards, and disciplinary action in the police force. Also, pervasive political interference affected the force’s internal discipline and professionalism significantly.
Now, the police demand an independent commission to formulate some specific policies and run the force accordingly, in orderecurrence of the recent predicament. These issues have been discussed in a recent meeting of the police reform commission with the senior police officers.
For rendering the police into a service-oriented force, the senior officers emphasised ensuring transparency in professional evaluation, putting an end to political interference, and preventing financial transactions in promotions as well as transfer
Under the Awami League government, there has been large-scale irregularities, including transaction of money, in promotions, postings, transfers, appointments, awards, and disciplinary action in the police force. Also, pervasive political interference affected the force’s internal discipline and professionalism significantly.
Now, the police demand an independent commission to formulate some specific policies and run the force accordingly, in order to prevent recurrence of the recent predicament. These issues have been discussed in a recent meeting of the police reform commission with the senior police officers.
For rendering the police into a service-oriented force, the senior officers emphasised ensuring transparency in professional evaluation, putting an end to political interference, and preventing financial transactions in promotions as well as transfers.
At the same time, they stressed digging into the core setbacks, resolving the existing issues, and exploring the reasons behind the force’s failure in meeting the people’s aspirations. The police, they believe, can be turned into a truly pro-people force if the issues are addressed properly.
The meeting took place in the police headquarters on 15 October, where around 50–60 officers, with ranks between additional superintendent of police and additional inspector general of police, from different units were present, in addition to the inspector general of police (IGP), Mainul Islam.
Eight members of the police reform commission, including its chief Safar Raj Hossain, attended the meeting, but there was no representative from students.
According to the meeting minutes and associated sources, the session opened with a Powerpoint presentation on the current status of the police force and areas in
At one point, a commission member raised the issue of the superior selection board (SSB), which oversees promotions to the ranks of deputy inspector general (DIG) of police and above.
The police officers said the SSB does not evaluate officers properly, as it does not include the IGP. They also mentioned irregularities and illegal transactions in promotions, appointments, and transfers during the previous government.
According to them, the former home minister, with his syndicate, used to control illegal transactions for promotions, appointments, and transfers. A joint secretary from the public security division, four deputy secretaries, and a former additional secretary (employed as the minister’s special assistant) were in the syndicate.
This led to a breakdown of internal discipline, with some officers gaining undue influence, with impunity for disobeying the superiors. Some of the influentials were involved in recruitment of sub-inspectors and constables.
The officials laid emphasis on formulating time-befitting regulations for recruitment, transfers, and promotions, in order to restore order in the force. They suggested taking lessons from the draft police ordinance 2007, in addition to other previous commissions and committees. At the same time, they suggested expanding the commission to include a judge and a media representative, alongside a student representative.
A source within the commission confirmed to Prothom Alo that the reform body plans to add two new members – one to come from the judiciary through the law ministry and the other from students.
Apart from formal meetings, commission members have been regularly consulting among themselves.
In this regard, Safar Raj Hossain said his commission listened the different experiences of the police and their suggestions to resolve the crisis. Later, the commission will consider the issues while preparing the reform proposals.
Also, they will recommend bringing the police forces to best practices.
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