The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad yesterday recognized weaknesses in Bangladesh's police investigations and said things are unlikely to improve any time soon.

"Police investigations were never done strongly, not are being done strongly and they won't be done strongly in the future," he told reporters after his meeting with Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury.

The police chief was replying to a volley of questions from the journalists about the quality of police investigation. His comments were sought about the cases initially filed by the police and later forwarded to the ACC. The final reports on many of those cases had to be submitted by the ACC, as involvement of the accused was not found.

"There might be questions regarding police activities," he said adding that there is no option, but to submit final reports in case of false information in the first information reports. About the weaknesses in police investigations, Nur Mohammad said this problem would remain.

He said the country's police are not in a position to work fearlessly due to its weaknesses and lack of facilities.

Responding to a query, Nur Mohammad expressed frustration for not promulgating the proposed 'Police Ordinance'.

Asked why police cannot improve the quality of its investigations, he said, "Can I do that? I've been shouting for the last one and half to two years for implementing the Police Ordinance."

The IGP said things would have been better had this ordinance been promulgated.

About police reform, he said, "We're saying we'll be good. Give us the opportunity to be good. But, you're not giving (the chance). Give us the chance first to be good, then carrying out the reforms." Asked whether there is a lack of good intention on the part of the government in promulgating the Police Ordinance, he said, "There must be problems somewhere. Promulgation of it (ordinance) can hurt someone's interests, therefore it is not promulgated."

The police chief said there is difference between cases filed by his force and the anti-graft watchdog. The ACC cases are filed after inquiries while inquiries of the police cases take place after the filing of cases, he added. He said generally charge-sheets in 60-65 percent of the police cases are submitted with the courts and the final reports of the remaining cases are submitted.