Shutdown Excesses by Police, Admin: Outrage; move on to pull in the reins
Amid widespread outrage over police excess in enforcing restrictions on people's movement, the authorities yesterday issued several directives asking police and other officials to act professionally.
Over the last few days, policemen hit people with batons in Tangail, Rajbari, Chattogram, Dinajpur, and in some areas in the capital, according to media reports.
There are allegations that people who left home to buy essentials and even an on-duty medical officer were among those attacked.
People vented their frustration on social media the most after photos of an assistant commissioner (land) publicly humiliating elderly people in Jashore's Manirampur went viral. The official was withdrawn yesterday.
In two photos, Sayeema Hasan is seen taking photos with her phone of elderly men holding their ears.
At Chinetola kitchen market on Friday, Sayeema made three men -- a rickshaw-van puller, a vegetable vendor, and a man riding a bicycle -- hold their ears.
It was during a mobile court aimed to ensure social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus. She also punished several others the same way for not wearing masks, our correspondent reports quoting locals.
Sayeema did not explain her action, when asked by reporters.
Public Administration Secretary Shaikh Yusuf Harun told The Daily Star that the official has been withdrawn and is facing an investigation led by the deputy commissioner of the district. Further action will be taken afterwards.
"Apart from these, we have directed, in a facebook group, all field officials not to repeat such an incident," he added.
The deputy commissioner of a district in Dhaka Division, wishing anonymity, said, "[We were] asked to be more careful and pro-people while discharging duties. He also asked us to follow relevant laws…. I asked my colleagues to abide by those directives,"
The inspector general of police (IGP) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner issued separate directives.
IGP Mohammad Javed Patwary asked law enforcers across the country to be tolerant, polite and professional while discharging duties.
DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam also asked officers to behave professionally and gave a set of directives clarifying which shops were allowed to open in the capital.
The government last week announced closure of all public and private offices from March 26-April 4 in a bid to contain coronavirus. Public transport has been suspended.
No restrictions have been imposed on hospitals, kitchen markets, drug stores, freight trains, cargo vessels, and trucks and lorries carrying goods, medicine, fuel and perishable items.
Manirampur UNO SORRY
Mohammad Shafiul Arif, deputy commissioner of Jashore, said, "I have seen the photos... A show cause letter will be issued to her [Sayeema]."
Manirampur Upazila Nirbarhi Officer Ahsan Ullah Sharifi and several other officials yesterday went to the village homes of the people humiliated the day before and handed them some daily essentials.
"We... apologised to the elderly men on behalf of the administration… We asked them to stay at home and promised to provide them with daily essentials when needed," Sharifi told The Daily Star.
"I think they accepted our apology," he added.
IGP ASKS FOR PROFESSIONALISM
In a message issued on Friday, IGP Mohammad Javed Patwary asked law enforcers to ensure free movement of emergency service providers.
"Ensure free passage for people and vehicles related to emergency services like medicine, daily essentials, food, electricity, banking and mobile phones.
"Be polite, patient and professional in dealing with citizens of the country...," reads the message.
RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES TO REMAIN OPEN: DMP
DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said restaurants and bakeries should remain open and their employees should be allowed to travel.
Shops of essential commodities should remain open and their employees must be allowed to work, read his directives.
However, customers should be recommended takeaways, it added.
Individual movement in any form should be allowed with health advice and Police should take special care for people like health care personnel, technicians, city corporation officials, security guards, etc, it added.
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