Murder of MP Liton: Hasina slams rights bodies for silence

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday came down hard on the rights bodies that remained silent over the killing of Awami League MP from Gaibandha-1 Manjurul Islam Liton.

"These days, we often hear a hue and cry even if a small incident takes place. But when an MP was killed, neither any human rights organisation nor any person uttered a single word. Bangladesh is a strange country!" she said.

Hasina was addressing senior officials of Bangladesh Police at the Prime Minister's Office on the occasion of Police Week 2017.

The PM said many did not raise their voice when culprits killed people of different faiths in a planned way, carried out arson attacks on mosques and set fire to the holy Quran.

Describing this as part of conspiracies, she asked the senior police officials to stay alert in this regard, reports UNB.

She also wondered why police personnel had been withdrawn from MP Liton's house and his licensed arms seized just before the killing. "His life was put at risk in a planned way."

The prime minister assured the officials of considering their various demands, which include raising the number of Grade-1 and 2 posts, alongside increasing the number of vehicles and infrastructural facilities.

She also suggested ensuring accommodation for all the female police trainees.

Referring to an ambassador's Facebook post after the Gulshan café attack that Bangladesh would not be able to tackle the situation, she said, “We have been able to tackle the situation within a few hours and it seemed that some were unhappy with this as they expected that we would seek their help... but they're yet to know the Bangalees fully."

Praising again the role of police in tackling the Gulshan siege, the prime minister said they might have to face such challenges again in future.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque delivered the welcome speech at the programme.

Others who spoke on the occasion include Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Home Secretary Kamaluddin Ahmed, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, DIG of Chittagong Range Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Additional Police Commissioner of DMP Md Monirul Islam, Additional DIG Habibur Rahman and SP of Gazipur Harun-ur-Rashid.

POLICE DEMAND

On this occasion, police demanded creating a separate division to be run by its own officials under the home ministry to speed up their operational and specialised activities.     

Shafiqul Islam, DIG of Chittagong Range, placed the demand, which police have been pressing for over the last three years but never got the prime minister's nod.

Some other officials demanded steps for expansion of the counterterrorism unit's jurisdiction over the whole country, upgrading some top posts to Grade-1 and increasing training and transportation facilities.

“An additional inspector general with the rank of secretary and a DIG equivalent to joint secretary will look after the activities of the division after creation of necessary positions,” Shafiqul told The Daily Star.

Meeting sources said the prime minister asked the officials to discuss the issue of separate division formally.

 Earlier in 2013, the police headquarters sent a proposal to the home ministry for separate division.

The demand was also placed during the police weeks in 2014, 2015 and last year.

The government last year split the home ministry into two divisions -- the Public Security Division and the Security Services Division. A circular was issued in this regard a week ago.

The ministry looks after the activities of Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jail, Fire Service, Department of Narcotic Control, Ansar, Coast Guard and 10 other forces besides the police force that have around 1.94 lakh members.

According to high police officials, a separate police division would speed up recruitment, transfer and promotion in the force.

Wishing anonymity, another top official said sometimes it takes long to get approval from different ministries for important files of police.

Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of DMP, proposed expanding the unit's activities across the country. Now it needs approval from the IGP to carry out any operation outside the DMP's area.

Monirul, an additional commissioner of the DMP, also demanded higher training facilities for its officials and ensuring counter-radicalisation programmes.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia demanded upgrading the posts of DMP commissioner, director general of Rab, chief of CID and one more additional IG post to Grade-1.

Presently, the posts of the inspector general and the chief of Special Branch are under Grade-1.