Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) and Bangladesh Police Association (BPA) in separate statements on Thursday protested Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki’s comment on police’s role in the national elections.
The two associations also demanded withdrawal of the ambassador’s comment, terming it “baseless and uncalled for”.
President of BPSA, Additional IGP and Chief of Special Branch Md Monirul Islam, and its general secretary Dhaka district SP Md Asaduzzaman; President of BPA, OC of Gulshan Police Station BM Farman Ali, and its general secretary, OC of Jatrabari Police Station, Mazharul Islam signed, their respective statemenrs.
Both the statements say that the attention of BPSA and BPA has been drawn to the “baseless and unwanted” accusations raised by Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki against the police during a question and answer session regarding the 11th National Election during a "Meet the Ambassador" event in the capital on November 14.
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The statements say that every member of Bangladesh Police was deeply embarrassed and shocked by his comments. Both BPSA and BPA strongly protested his statement.
In response to a question, the Japanese Ambassador had said, “I heard that (in the last election), police officers filled the ballot boxes the night before… I have not heard of such instances in any other country.”
The statements say that Bangladesh Police maintains law and order during the elections and provides security to the polling stations as per the instructions of the Election Commission. The police have no role or activity in the candidate selection process of the voters or in the voting inside the polling stations, it adds.
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Both BPSA and BPA separately requested to withdraw the said part of his speech. Both associations also expected a more responsible role from the Japanese ambassador while commenting on national issues.