Adviser for Home Affairs Brigadier (retd) AKM Sakhawat Hossain has said that Bangladesh Police cannot be used for political purposes any more. Police will run according to the rules of the Police Commission from now on, he said.

He made the remark on Sunday while visiting injured police personnel undergoing treatment at Central Police Hospital in Dhaka.

“Police can no longer be used for political purposes. Police will operate according to the Police Commission. You give orders to the Police Commission, they (police) will abide by if the orders are good,” he said.

The Home Affairs Adviser also said those who used and exploited police force must face punishment.

He warned police personnel who are still not rejoining duty, saying that a date will be set from the Secretariat, asking them to join duty, otherwise they will be suspended.

Regarding police’s demands, he assured of fulfilling those but said that right now all demands cannot be met.

In response to incidents of robbery in various places, he called for everyone’s cooperation and advised the public to help apprehend those responsible for the crimes.

He emphasized, “Please assist the police. It is not your responsibility to judge the police—that is the role of the police headquarters. We are here, and we will do it. There is a legal system in place, and those who have committed any excesses will be brought to justice. But you should not take that into your own hands.”

On the other hand, Inspector General of Police Md Mainul Islam said 42 police personnel were killed and 507 injured in the recent clashes.

Of the injured, 27 have been undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Hospital.