Outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has said that “Operation Sundarbans” is winning over audiences since its release on Friday. “Despite being a two hours and 21 minutes long film, it has managed to keep the audience invested. The film is receiving positive reactions from moviegoers as it’s packed with action, adventure and suspense. VFX, sound quality, actors’ performances – altogether ‘Operation Sundarbans’ scores high,” the IGP said. Benazir Ahmed said this after watching “Operation Sundarbans” at Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City mall on Friday afternoon. “Our RAB troops and officers have also done a great job. In a number of ways, scenes of the operation have been highlighted. After watching the movie, audiences will better understand our officers’ acumen and efficiency,” he commented. Also read: PM declares Sundarban robber-free Referring to the story of “Operation Sundarbans”, Benazir Ahmed said that RAB started the operation with the aim of restoring peace in the Sundarbans, known as a sanctuary for robbers. “Peace and security were ensured in the Sundarbans through the skillful and smart operation of the officers and troops. We planned to present that success story to the nation through ‘Operation Sundarbans’,” he said. “However, it is not possible to highlight the success of RAB with just one film, and I think this film partly shows RAB’s many successes. After planning to make the film, I asked filmmaker Dipankar Dipon to go to the Sundarbans, stay there, talk to locals including the bhawali, honey collectors, fishermen and write the script. Dipan followed the instructions.” “The Sundarbans was a sanctuary for robbers for nearly 40 years after independence. RAB has been able to free the Sundarbans from them as well as inspire a quality film,” he said. The IGP said, “Earlier, when I worked on ‘Dhaka Attack’ with Dipan, I was the Police Commissioner. And while planning ‘Operation Sundarbans’, I was the DG of RAB. At the time of the film’s release, I am serving as the IGP.” Also read: 'Beauty Circus’ & ‘Operation Sundarban’ set the ball rolling for Bangladesh film industry Rab’s Legal and Media Wing Director, Commander Khandaker Al Moin; RAB's Legal and Media Wing Deputy Director, Major Raisul Azam; producer Arun Chowdhury; Chayanika Chowdhury, actress Tanjika, filmmaker SA Haque Olike, actress and director Hriday Haque, Raihan Rafi and artists of “Operation Sundarbans” were also present on the occasion.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Thursday urged motorcyclists not to drive without wearing quality helmets. The IGP made the call while speaking at the launching of UN Standard Helmet in Bangladesh organized by BRAC at a hotel in the capital. The IGP said the number of different types of vehicles on the roads is increasing as the country is developing. Road safety is also becoming a challenge day by day. Referring to study, he said that 70 per cent of the victims of road accidents are pedestrians. On the other hand, most of the motorcycle victims are young people between the ages of 20 and 30. They are the productive manpower of the country. Read: Cyber bullying against women is increasing: IGP Benazir said at least 1,494 incidents of road accidents occurred in the country in the last six months. Among them, 478 were of motorcycle accidents. On the other hand, 336 people were killed and 305 injured in those motorcycle accidents during the period. Of those victims, 239 had helmets, while among the injured people, 224 did not have helmets. This is an aspect of not having a helmet. On the other hand, the quality of the helmet, he added. The police chief said that there is no certification authority for helmets in our country. He emphasized on Bangladesh importing European Union or US standard helmets or assembling them in the country. Read: Tourist police ensure safe tourism: IGP The IGP said many companies in the country are now producing motorcycles. He appealed to the motorcycle manufacturers to fix the package price by adding helmets to the motorcycles. He also demanded an end to the import of low quality helmets. He said that if a person is killed or injured in a road accident, it is not only the loss of a family but also the economy of the country. State Minister for Planning said. Shamsul Alam, BRTA Chairman Noor Mohammad Majumder and senior officials of the World Bank were present.

The officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations must be as enchanting as the Pied Piper of Hamelin to win the hearts and minds of the public, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed said Saturday. The IGP came up with the remark while addressing August's crime review meeting of Dhaka Range as the chief guest.   Habibur Rahman, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of Dhaka Range police, chaired the meeting. Superintendents of police (SPs) and officers of all the districts under the range attended it. READ: IGP urges the rich to help the Covid-hit poor people Comparing the society with a flowing river, the IGP said as the society changes, the law and order and crime situations follow suit. So he directed the field level officers to keep up with these changes. Describing beat policing as an effective method, Benazir said it can play an effective role in maintaining law and order and controlling crime in every union. READ: Strictly maintain health rules during shopping: IGP Referring to the responsibility of the higher ranking policemen in making their subordinates competent, the IGP said good examples should be set for them. "We have to motivate and supervise them. Every police member must perform duties with professionalism." Also, the IGP expressed satisfaction over the innovative practices of the Dhaka Range, and suggested other units should follow the same. 

Bangladesh police force will hire only qualified people with merit and good physique as constables under a new recruitment policy, the country’s police chief said on Tuesday. The new policy has been formulated after reviewing the policies in the neighbouring countries and also of many developed nations, said Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed wrapping up a three-day crime review meeting at the Hall of Integrity at the Police Headquarters here. Police constables are being appointed under the new policy, he said adding sub-inspectors and sergeants will soon be recruited under its provision, the IGP said. He said that "Under the clear direction of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, we are committed to building a corruption-free police force for the welfare of the country and the people." READ: IGP urges the rich to help the Covid-hit poor people Sounding a warning against use of drugs Benazir said that strict action will be taken against any police member if found involved in drug consumption, drug traders or drug trading. "As a member of the police, nothing can be done that harms the police force, harms the country, harms the people of the country," he said. He asked the senior police officials not to compromise on maintaining the discipline of the forces. "If any police member breaks the discipline, exemplary strict action has to be taken against him/her. We are also trying our best to ensure their (police members) welfare. He called for a change in the police behaviour with ordinary people and asked police members to refrain from inhumane treatment of people. Mentioning the main responsibility of the police to investigate the case, the IGP said that the quality of case investigation has to be further enhanced. READ: Strictly maintain health rules during shopping: IGP He directed the field level officials to be very attentive to the investigation and increase supervision. The IGP asked the police officers to bring pride in their service. "For this we have to bring about mentality and psychological change. We have to have love for the job and then we will be able to move forward," he said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Tuesday urged everyone to wear masks and strictly follow other hygiene rules during Eid shopping to stay safe from coronavirus. The IGP made the call at a views-exchange meeting on “What to do to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection” with the leaders of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association in the afternoon. All police commissioners, range DIGs and district police superintendents were connected online to the meeting held at the Police Headquarters. Also read: Follow lockdown restrictions: IGP to people IGP Benazir said both shopkeepers and buyers must wear masks when shopping. Hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities have to be kept at the entrance of the shop or shopping mall. Besides, body temperature must be checked when entering the shopping mall. Social distancing must be ensured at shops, he said. The IGP requested traders, shop owners and people to properly follow health guidelines. "If we abide by the government rules and regulations, the coronavirus infection will be reduced and the death rate will also decline,” he added. Also read: Motivate people to follow govt’s covid guidelines: IGP to police Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, told the meeting that they have set up hand washing or sanitising facilities in front of each market. Face masks have been made mandatory. Disinfectant tunnels have been installed at big shopping malls. He said traders across the country are very vocal and vigilant in ensuring health protection against the virus. Additional IG (A&O) Md Moinur Rahman Chowdhury, Additional IG (Finance) SM Ruhul Amin, Additional IG (HRM) Md Mazharul Islam, DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam along with senior police officers and leaders of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association were present.

Sixty-thousand applicants have registered for the movement pass until Tuesday evening, a police clearance which will be needed to travel during the strict lockdown that begins Wednesday. Around 30,000 passes have been issued by 6:30 pm, said sources at the Police Headquarters. Since the launching of the app, around 600,000 people visited the site for the pass, it said. Among them, around 60,000 completed registration by that time. Inspector-General of Police Benazir Ahmed inaugurated the movement pass app. Also read: Police to issue movement pass during lockdown “Five thousand applications have been submitted in just one hour. Anyone planning to go outside Dhaka will require the pass,” the police chief said. Conditional permission will be granted for a specified period of time. Who’s eligible for a movement pass According to Police Headquarters, the pass will be required to go out during lockdown in case of emergency. People going for official work, getting Covid-19 vaccine jab, grocery shopping, going to kitchen markets and medicine shops are eligible for the pass. Those going to receive medical services, joining agricultural works, goods transportation, supply, relief materials supply, burial or cremation activities among others, will also require the pass. Also read: Bangladesh’s complete lockdown set to begin on Apr 14; notification issued How to apply for movement pass A pass can be used once. People will need separate passes every time they travel during the lockdown. To register, one has to visit movementpass.police.gov.bd, and put his or her mobile phone number. They will be redirected to a page where one has to enter her/his date of birth. From there, the applicant will be redirected to another page where detailed information will have to be entered. Necessary information People need to enter their name, gender, age, reason for movement, date and time of movement, information about vehicles and their photo. Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina However, all are not allowed to have the pass. Only those who have emergency reasons for movement will be granted it. The government is going to enforce a nationwide strict lockdown on Wednesday to curb the Coronavirus transmission.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Sunday told police to motivate the people to follow the government’s directives to tackle the transmission of coronavirus. He gave the directive to all metropolitan police, range and district police superintendents through a video conference from the Police Headquarters. A surge in infection prompted the Prime Minister Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29. The Cabinet Division gave an 11-point guideline on April 4. Also read: Bangladesh set to enforce nationwide lockdown Monday amid Covid surge Benazir emphasised motivating the people and not using force to implement the directives when the country enters a seven-day lockdown from Monday. The IGP said that like last year, the kitchen markets have to be set up in open space. Following health guidelines must be ensured there. About the quarantine of returnees, he said that if anyone comes from abroad, they have to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Also read: Govt issues gazette restricting people’s movement, other activities for 7 days Emergency services, factories and garments industries will remain open, he said, adding that public transport will be closed. The movement of vehicles carrying goods should be kept normal. He instructed police officers and the force to perform their duties following proper health guidelines. The IGP directed to strictly implement the 'No Mask No Entry' policy at all police installations. He also instructed the police officers to regularly disinfect all police installations. Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge The IGP said that after coronavirus cases were first detected in the country in March last year, police stood by the people as a humanitarian force to tackle the crisis. He hoped that everyone would work together to curb the spread of coronavirus by implementing the government's orders to deal with the second wave.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed on Wednesday said that people who are behind the violence unleashed by Hefazat-e-Islam would be brought to book. The IGP made the remarks at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the afternoon while visiting police members injured in clashes with Hefazat in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria. Hefazat’s top brass was not sued as they were not present on the spot of during the clashes and sabotage, Benazir said. Also read: Hefazat announces ‘doa mahfil' for Monday, 'demonstration' on April 2 “But action will be taken against them if they’re found involved with the clashes and violence,” he said. “Those who launched the attack were named in the cases but [our] investigation will also reveal the names of instigators.” “Their barbaric attack was an attempt to tarnish the golden jubilee celebration of country’s independence,” he said. Also read: Hefazat’s day-long hartal ends amid violence, clashes On Sunday, six separate cases were filed against 3,000 people over sabotage on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj during Hefazat’s daylong hartal. Siddhirganj police have filed five cases and the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) another. Also read: Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked Clashes, vandalism, arson attacks and road blockades at different parts of the country were reported during the hardline Islamist group’s daylong hartal on Sunday. Hefazat called for the shutdown demanding punishment of policemen involved in shooting incidents in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria during their anti-Modi protests that left at least nine people dead, including several Hefazat activists.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed on Wednesday directed all members of his force to ensure the optimum utilization of government resources in the best possible way.