Bangladesh: PM Sheikh Hasina asks police to check cybercrimes, drug abuse, money laundering

“The most important thing is that the trend of crimes is changing with the advent of newer technologies as it is an era of technology. Cybercrimes are increasing drastically and we have to prevent it,” she said.

While addressing virtually the passing-out parade of the 37th BCS batch of assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) from her official Gonobhaban residence in the capital, the prime minister also said that the crimes which are being committed using technology must be stopped.

Bangladesh police organised the programme at the Bangladesh Police Academy, Rajshahi.

The Prime Minister called upon the police personnel to always serve the people with honesty, dedication, moral values and discipline and thus achieve the trust, confidence and love of the people.

“In case of discharging professional duties, the police personnel have to give utmost priority to the people’s fundamental rights, human rights and the rule of law,” she said.

Noting that money laundering, cybercrime and human trafficking have global phenomenon, Sheikh Hasina said, “We have to protect our country from the menaces.”

The Prime Minister highly praised the police personnel for playing a significant role in controlling militancy and terrorism in the country. “Police have to play a stronger role in curbing militancy and terrorism alongside stopping the abuse of drugs. Many police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause.”

She asked the police personnel to prevent the repression on the women and children with more efficiency alongside stopping other social crimes such as spreading rumours and gangster culture.

“We have to bring to normal life the teenagers who are involved in crimes using various apps,” she said.

The Prime Minister asked the police personnel to stay alert so that none could spread rumour to destabilise the country.

Describing training as the most important thing to make the police personnel capable to fight the crimes, she said, “We have taken measures to train the police personnel accordingly at home and abroad and it must be continued.”

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, MP, and senior secretary of public security division Mostofa Kamal Uddin spoke on the occasion while Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed gave a welcome address at the function.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister distributed prizes among apprentice ASPs -- Abul Hossain, Snehasish Kumar Das, Md Fayejul Islam and Md Abul Hossain for their best performances in various fields. Among them, Snehasish Kumar Das was adorned with the best all-round performance award.

The newly commissioned police officers also took formal oaths on the occasion.

Bangladesh police arranged a spectacular parade marking the occasion which the prime minister witnessed virtually from the Gonobhaban.

The Prime Minister said that her government’s topmost priority is to ensure peace and security of the people by strengthening democracy.

She called upon the police personnel to stand beside the people in their bad days to gain their confidence, trust and love. “The number of the police would not matter if you can gain confidence, trust and love of the people and you can contain any crime with the help of people.”

In this connection, the prime minister said, quoting Bangabandhu, “Bear in mind that the people will love you instead of fearing. You know, people love police in many countries. You have to learn how to earn honour.”

Briefly highlighting various measures taken by her government for the overall development of police, Sheikh Hasina said her government has formed, Anti-Terrorism Unit and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) Unit to enhance efficiency of the police personnel in containing the terrorism and militancy.

The government also has established Special Security and Protection Battalion, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, Naval Police and Industrial Police to effectively fight all sorts of crimes, she continued.

The Prime Minister said they have formed armed police battalions for ensuring security at airports while two armed police battalions have also been formed to maintain law and order at camps in Cox’s Bazar where around 1.1 million Rohingyas took shelter and one female armed police battalion has also been formed.

Hasina said that the budget for police was only Tk 8.50 billion when the Awami League assumed office in 1996, adding that the government increased the amount to Tk 12 billion in its first budget.

Noting that after coming to power for the second time in 2009, her government found that no more allocation was made for the police in the national budget, she said, “We have increased the allocation for Bangladesh police to Tk 160 billion (16,000 crore) in the national budget announced for the FY 2020-21.”

The Prime Minister said she herself as the head of the government has established a 10-storey hospital for police at Rajarbagh Police Lines after coming to power in 1996 and stressed the need of forming a separate medical unit for ensuring medicare services for the police.

She said that her government has rented a private hospital for giving proper treatment to the policemen infected with COVID-19.

Hasina also said her government has been taking measures to establish educational institutes in the divisional cities for ensuring proper education for the children of the police personnel.

The Prime Minister said that the police have to play a great role in establishing a developed and prosperous country free from poverty, hunger and religious disharmony as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.