Don't use mobile phones while on duty
Policemen have been instructed not to use mobile phones or stay busy on the device while carrying out duties.
In an order signed by Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary, the Police Headquarters (PHQ) said members of the force can only use cellphones for official purposes and during emergency.
In some cases, police members involved in security planning can use mobile phones, but their phone numbers should be written against their names, reads the order issued on March 12.
It asked the policemen not to post anything on social media or take selfies while on duty. The PHQ prohibited cops from playing games, watching videos, listening to music, browsing Facebook or YouTube pages and reading news in portals during duty hours.
The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the order. It was issued nine days after Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal came under a knife attack from a youth in Sylhet's Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) during a programme on March 3.
Two policemen, who were deployed to provide security to the SUST teacher, were seen using their mobile phones before the attack. The photograph of the cops went viral in social media and Sylhet Metropolitan Police later withdrew the two from duty.
The PHQ said recently it was noticed that on-duty policemen use mobile phones without official or emergency needs. The unnecessary use of cellphones by cops hampers discharging duties properly, which is not expected at all.
If any cop is found violating the instructions, he will be held responsible for negligence of duty, read the order.
Earlier on November 10, 2015, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque during a meeting at Rajarbagh Police Lines had instructed cops not to use cellphones while on duty.
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