Help police to stop violence: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the people of the country to help police in containing violence irrespective of their political affinity.

At the same time, she has also instructed the police forces to discharge their duties responsibly to earn people’s faith.

The prime minister was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Police Week-2015 in Razarbagh on Tuesday morning.

“We have to take the country forward. Bangladesh will become one of the most peaceful countries in South Asia. There is no place for violence, militancy and terrorism here,” she said.

“So I call upon the people of the country to unite against violence irrespective of which party they support. I ask the people to help police in every possible ways.”

The prime minister addressed the police saying, “You will continue doing your duties properly and earn the faith of the people... this is what we want.”

The prime minister spoke about the ongoing countrywide violence.

“The BNP-Jamaat alliance is perpetrating violence without any reason at a time when Bangladesh is moving forward in economic and social aspects.”

The alliance has been observing countrywide blockade and series of strikes for the last 22 days demanding interim polls under a non-partisan government.

Acts of sabotage across the country have taken at least 35 lives, most of them victims of petrol bomb attacks.

Sheikh Hasina also reminded about the anarchy unleashed during BNP-Jamaat’s strike and blockade in 2013.

“They had killed 17 policemen and 20 other law enforcers in the name of preventing the elections.”

She expressed her gratitude to police personnel for ‘risking their own lives’ in the line of duty to accomplish the Jan 5 polls.

The prime minister mentioned 31,744 police posts were created in the last six years and that another 50,000 were in the pipeline.

She assured that 30 percent risk allowance, currently paid only to constable to sub-inspector rank holders, would gradually be ‘implemented for all levels of police personnel’.

“Formation of a special unit is underway” she said, “It will be tasked with eradicating militancy, terrorism and violence against the state.”

Besides, the formation of tech-dependant Airport Armed Police Battalion has begun to ensure the safety of airports.

She stressed on boosting manpower in the police forces as it was the ‘most effective and visible’ unit of the service.