The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad yesterday lamented that they have nothing to do but look on with the optimism that the proposed 'Police Ordinance-2007' would be promulgated someday.

"Reform in police administration is going on and it will continue as long as the police administration exists," he told reporters, with an undercurrent of unhappiness about the holdback of the police law in the making.

Earlier on Monday, the police chief told reporters after a meeting with Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury that there must be problems somewhere along the line. 'Promulgation of the ordinance could hurt someone's interest-that's why it is not promulgated,' he said. Asked who are putting barriers in the way of enforcing the Police Ordinance, the IGP parried the question, saying that they have nothing to do but express optimism about it.

"We're hopeful that one day it'll be implemented," he told the journalists when he inaugurated two more police stations in the city's crime-prone Darus Salam and Kadamtoli areas to closely respond to people's call for police help.

With these two, the number of police stations in the DMP domain in the capital rises to 35.

Darus Salam police station has been set up cutting out some areas of Mirpur police station while Kadamtoli PS with part of Shyampur PS.

Hundreds of people in those areas came to the venues in processions-dancing and chanting anti-crime slogans-to hail the police in their proximity, which gave the occasion a festive look.

Speaking as chief guest at the functions, Nur Mohammad said police couldn't work properly without cooperation of the general people. "Let's come together to help police and involve ourselves with the activities of community police to solve our own problems ourselves."

Mentioning various reforms in the police administration, the police boss said community policing system was introduced in police stations so that people of each community could solve or settle their problems, instead of filing cases, through ward-level discussion.

Nur Mohammad noted that police has been formed for serving the common man, not for harassment, and urged the police personnel to work honestly and sincerely to regain the image of the force.

Speaking on the occasion, DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed firmly assured

people of Darus Salam, an area known to all as a safe haven for muggers and drug-peddlers, that there wouldn't be any visible drug spot after two months in the city as this is one of the major reasons for snatching.

He said the main objective of police is to convert itself to service-providing institution by ensuring everyone's participation, as it is not possible to control law-and-order situation without it.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police boss also emphasized strengthening the community-policing system.

Naim Ahmed said the process of setting up six more police stations at Gendaria, Bangshal, Chawlkbazar, Rampura, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Kalabagan got delayed due to accommodation problem.

"We hope that we'll start operation of Bangshal and Kalabagan police stations from next month (October)."

Among others, additional police commissioner Abdus Salam, deputy police commissioners Anwar Hossain (Mirpur division) and Khandaker Mohid Uddin (Lalbagh division) also spoke.