Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tells police to serve the people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the police to face all contemporary challenges and 'serve the people'.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Jan 2016, 06:35 AM
Updated : 26 Jan 2016, 08:53 AM

Addressing the 'Police Week 2016' at the Rajarbagh Police Lines on Tuesday, she called on police to stand by the poor and the oppressed as a 'trusted friend'.
 
"You need to face all contemporary challenges and serve the people. Every policeman must protect the poor and vulnerable, so that people trust you," she told the assembled policemen.
 
Her advice to police came in the backdrop of two incidents of torture of government officials by police personnel that caused nationwide furore. 
 
She said the government's decision to recruit an additional 50,000 policemen was aimed at addressing the poor police-people ratio.   
 
Hasina said police ensures internal security, maintains the rule of law and upholds human rights. "They even risk their lives on the line of duty."
 
She applauded the police for their 'bravery' during the violent BNP-Jamaat agitation last year. "It is because of their (police) vigilance and initiative that the forces of terror and radicalism have not been able to raise their ugly head in the country." 
 

 

The prime minister also underlined the need for stability and law and order in development and said the role of the police in ensuring that was crucial. "Bangladesh will be a developed country by 2041 and we will make it the most peaceful country in South Asia."

Police Medals were given away by the prime minister on Tuesday to those who have excelled in the line of duty in 2015. 
 
Nineteen policemen were awarded the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM), 20 were awarded the President Police Medal (PPM), 23 received the BPM-Service and 40 received the PPM-Service awards. Six policemen were given the awards posthumously.