The Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) has raised concerns over a statement of Bangladesh Police Service Association regarding media reports on current and former police officers owning disproportionate assets.

This comes in response to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Police Service Association criticizing the dissemination of such reports.

According to CRAB, the media have responsibly covered stories concerning several police personnel allegedly possessing abnormal wealth. They emphasize that these reports were not driven by any ulterior motives, as implied by the Bangladesh Police Service Association's statement.

Kamrul Jamman Khan, President of CRAB, and Sirajul Islam, General Secretary, expressed their apprehension over the language used in the statement. They believe it could potentially undermine the principles of independent journalism by suggesting tolerance towards personal misconduct among certain officers.

CRAB further contends that if the allegations against these officers are proven false, they should seek recourse through legal channels rather than exerting pressure through organizational statements. They assert that labelling all media reports as motivated attacks on independent journalism is unjustifiable.

The association also stresses the importance of supporting the government's 'zero tolerance policy' against corruption. They urge collaboration rather than obstruction in addressing allegations of misconduct.

The Police Service Association's statement has sparked a debate on the ethical boundaries of reporting on public officials' conduct and assets. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between media freedom and institutional accountability within Bangladesh's law enforcement sector.