Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the police personnel to continue their service towards the people to sustain the public trust they have earned. “…serve the people keeping the humanitarian aspects in mind so that the trust and confidence among the mass people regarding the police force remain intact,” she said. The prime minister said this while inaugurating the Police Week-2023 at the capital's Rajarbagh Police Lines. She said that police are now serving the people as the force of the people while in the past they used to live in fear of police. “Now they know that police serve them and stand beside them and gaining trust of people is very much important for any force. You (police force) are doing that,” she said. Hasina said her government wanted to develop the country’s police force to the standard of the developed countries. “In keeping compatibility with the developed countries we want to build our police force a skilled and smart police force and drive the country towards development,” she told the programme.. She urged all to ensure that no one can put any obstacle in the country’s march towards development and prosperity. She recalled that the opposition BNP-Jamaat alliance unleashed arson attacks on the people in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She hoped that these kinds of heinous acts will not be repeated in the country. “I thank all law enforcing agencies including the police force for their courageous role to stop those attacks,” she said. Read more: Govt committed to expanding techno-based police services: PM “That Bangladesh will be a Smart Bangladesh in knowledge, science and technology. The digital devices will be used in everything such as our business, trade, education, health and the government,’’ she said. She also mentioned that Bangladesh Police would be built in a smarter way by giving them education on science and technology and proper training. PM Hasina alerted the police about conspiracies being hatched against Bangladesh. “Conspiracies are being hatched when Bangladesh is advancing towards prosperity,” she said. She said that police had successfully broken the base of the militant organisations following the Holey Artisan which has brightened the country’s image globally. “Police are also successfully checking the smuggling and human trafficking,” she said. She also highly praised the police, particularly the women members of the force, as they have achieved global fame for their professional and sincere work in the UN peace missions. She said Bangladesh must keep the pace of development despite the world is going through an economic recession. Hasina reiterated her call to grow more food, bringing every inch of land under cultivation to keep Bangladesh safe from global recession and food crisis. “You all have to grow something at your working places as Bangladesh never has to face global economic recession and food crisis,” she said. Read more: Pay production cost to get smooth supply of gas, electricity: PM Hasina tells industries Briefly describing her government's measures taken for ensuring the overall development of the Bangladesh Police, she said that they increased the allocation for police in the budget to Tk 800 crore from Tk 400 crore, after assuming office for the first time in 1996. She said the government has ensured ration for all the police personnel including the retired ones and introduced risk allowances alongside promoting a female police personnel as the superintendent of police (SP) in 1998. The Prime Minister said they have built a Police Welfare Trust by giving Tk 5 crore as seed money and established the Police Staff College in 2000. She said they have built 25 police stations, 86 investigation centres, 58 highway police outposts, 150 police camps alongside appointing 803 sub inspectors, 507 sergeants, 14,680 constables during her first tenure 1996-2001 period. Read More: Proposal sent for formation of specialised police unit for metro rail: DMP Commissioner After assuming power for three consecutive terms since 2009, she said her government has taken various measures to turn Bangladesh into a self-dependent state and Bangladesh Police as modern, people friendly. She said they have increased the posts for grade-1 and 2 to solve the problem over promotion. Hasina said that the government has created Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, River Police, Special Security and Protection Battalion, Industrial Police, Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) while two battalions of the armed police and one battalion of the RAB in Rohingya camps to ensure their security. She said that DNA Lab, Automated Finger Print Identification System (AFIS) and modern forensic lab have been established in police, adding that such labs would be built in every division in future. Mentioning that cyber crimes have appeared as a big problem across the globe, she said a complete cyber police unite will be formed soon. The Prime Minister said they have taken measures to develop the Central Police Hospital and build divisional hospitals for police in each division, adding that a step has already taken to build a divisional hospital in Dhaka division.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (January 02, 2023) asked the police of Bangladesh to make it the “people’s police” by working tirelessly with integrity and humanity. “I hope that every member of the Bangladesh Police will carry out their duties with the spirit and patriotism of the great Liberation War. I believe that you will work tirelessly to make Bangladesh Police as the 'people's police' as expected by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib by carrying out duties with honesty, devotion and humanity,” she said. The PM said this in a message issued on the occasion of Police Week 2023, which is set to kick off on Tuesday (January 03, 2023). Talking about the successes of Bangladesh Police, she said police have achieved successes in the campaign against militancy and terrorism. “They continue to play an effective role in ensuring safe roads and ensuring the protection of state assets, including eradication of drugs, cybercrime, rumours, money laundering and human trafficking,” she added. Read: ‘Police now a symbol of dependability and confidence’ Hasina said Bangladesh has been able to maintain communal harmony thanks to the support of police, administration and other forces. “Our policemen have earned great respect and dignity in the United Nations peacekeeping missions by going beyond the country’s border,” she said. She recalled the contribution of the police in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the policemen risked their lives to fight the coronavirus and have played an unprecedented role in the services towards the people. Focusing on her government’s steps taken during 1996-2001 and 2009-till now for the wellbeing of the law enforcement agency, the PM said the Awami League government has done everything necessary for the welfare of the police.   “In Digital Bangladesh, we are committed to expanding technology-based policing services,” she said. Read: Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul She said the AL government has recruited manpower, creating the necessary number of new posts in the police organogram in the last 14 years since the formation of the government in 2009. Besides, her government also formed a good number of ranges including Industrial Police, Tourist Police, Naval Police, Police Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, and Metropolitan Unit, Cyber Police Centre, Battalion, In-Service Training Centre, Police Station, Investigation Centre, Police Outpost and the 999 units to render the national emergency service, she added. The Prime Minister said they have reintroduced the rank badge of the IGP and launched service desks for women, children, elderly and disabled people. “We’re providing the police services to the doorsteps of the people through beat policing,” she added. On the occasion of the Police Week, she extended her sincere greetings and congratulation to all the members of Bangladesh Police. Hasina wished all the programmes of 'Police Week 2023' a success. Read More: Keep serving the people to sustain public trust: PM Hasina urges police