Police more alert now: home boss

The country's police forces have not lost their morale following the latest attack in Ashulia. They have rather become more alert to the possibility of any crime, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said yesterday. 

He made the remarks two days after unknown assailants hacked a constable to death and injured another in Ashulia on the city outskirts. 

Without identifying any group, he said those who want to foil the execution of the war crimes verdict are behind the attack.

He also said, “Those who were against the Liberation War in 1971, wanted to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, exploded bombs simultaneously in 63 districts and killed the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, are behind the killing of police.”

On reported claim of Islamic State (IS) that it was behind the attack, the home minister once again said there is no existence of the global terror body in the country.

The minister was addressing a certificate distribution ceremony following a first aid training for journalists, organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh and the International Committee of the Red Cross at the headquarters of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, police said they could neither find any clue nor make any arrest.

“Our probe is going on but we are yet to arrest anyone or recover anything relating to the incident,” said Dipak Chandra Shaha, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ashulia Police Station, yesterday.

Ashulia police said a team from Dhaka Range started the investigation and talked to locals and some witnesses but got nothing significant, reports our Savar correspondent. 

The administrative probe body formed after the Ashulia attack also found how and why other police constables fled the attack scene, leaving two of their colleagues in danger.

Authorities have suspended Ashulia police sub-inspector, who left the spot before scheduled time of 8:00am that day.

Replying to a query why the police did not open fire, Habibur Rahman, superintendent of police of Dhaka, said police had no preparation to face such an unexpected incident.

He said they had arms with them but they were not ready to fight back as they had no such experience.

“We will take action if police are found to have neglected their duties,” Habibur Rahman said.