The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad yesterday accused most of the previous governments of abusing the police in different ways. He admitted that police has become transparent and accountable after the 1/11.

He said this at a view-exchange meeting at the Police Headquarters with the leaders of various non-government organisations (NGO).

The IGP said earlier some vested quarters had collected Tk 100 to Tk 150 crore through recruitment trading. But the recruitments were halted and if the recruitments were not halted, the entire police department would have suffered for about 30 years with those policemen recruited illegally.

He also said the police would hold meetings at district and upozila level to close gap between the police and people.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General (DG) Hasan Mahmud Khandakar, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Naim Ahmed, chiefs of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch (SB), Detective Branch (DB), and several other senior police officials were also present at the meeting.

Besides, leaders from various NGOs, including Grameen Bank, Action Aid, Karitas, Prashika, Acid Survivours' Foundation, Ain O Shalish Kendra, Bangladesh Manabadhikar Samanway Parishad, Democracy Watch, Shishu Odhikar Foundation and Blind Education took part in the discussion.

The IGP also said, " In the past, every government promised to make a radical change in the police department but none did it. I hope this is the time for the change in the police."

He, however, said police has been given power. But besides power, it should be given proper training and incentives.

The IGP said if any policeman gets involved in crimes he should have to be jailed or suspended and there are no excuses.

DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed in his speech explained various activities and said, "Our target is to divert the police forces into a service oriented institution."

He said the NGO should conduct in-depth research on the activities of the police.

The NGO leaders also mentioned various activities of the law-enforcing agencies such as violation of human and citizen rights, extra judicial killings, crossfire and illegal arrest. They suggested that the police should close the gap with the people.