CA asks cops not to harass people seeking help

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday asked the members of police to make sure that service seekers are not harassed at police stations, police outposts and investigation centres.
The head of the caretaker government gave the directive while formally inaugurating the Police Week 2008 at Rajarbagh Police Lines parade ground in the capital.
Intense monitoring and supervision over operation at a police station, police box or outpost and investigation centre will have to be ensured, he said in his directive.
"The main motto of your activities will be to provide desired service for the people and earn their confidence through it," the CA told the rank and file of the police attending the function.
He said as one of the major law-enforcement agencies of the country, the police will have to ensure honesty, efficiency, neutrality, transparency and accountability in discharging their duties.
The head of the caretaker government asked the police to get updated to prevent cyber crime, money laundering and other contemporary crimes.
"Instead of traditional system application of modern know-how and technology will have to increase in investigation into crime," he said, as new dimensions in the criminal underworld are getting unveiled nowadays.
The chief executive of the country in the interim period, whose military-supported government is carrying out a massive purge, asked the police to get tougher in curbing militancy and extremism and various crimes in socio-economic arena.
Terming the role of police very important in establishing the rule of law, the CA said in the context of present reality the cops will have to be turned into a service-oriented institution in the light of human rights and democratic values.
He said the present government in its limited tenure is taking steps to establish justice and good governance in society alongside holding a free, fair, neutral and acceptable election.
Earlier, a guard of honour was accorded to the CA by a smartly turned-out parade squad drawn from Rab, Armed Police Battalion (APBN), police of Dhaka and Rajshahi Ranges, combined range police, DMP, combined metropolitan police, women police, Bangladesh police UN Mission contingent, railway and highway police, horse-mounted police and police band party. He took salute from a decorated podium.
Flanked by the IGP, the chief adviser on board an open jeep reviewed the parade.
He distributed Bangladesh Police Gallantry Padak (Bangladesh Police Medal), Rastrapratir Police Padak (President's Police Medal), Bangladesh Police Padak- Service and Rastrapratir Police Padak-service for the year 2007 among the recipients for their courageous and heroic role in curbing crime and rendering extraordinary services for maintaining law and order.
On his arrival at the venue, the CA was received by Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad and additional IGP Nabo Bikram Kishore Tripura.
Advisers to the caretaker government, chiefs of the three services, diplomats, distinguished personalities and senior civil and military officials were present at the function.
Informing the police members that the government is aware about their profession-related problems and constraints, he assured that the government would take effective steps gradually in resolving their problems.
In this regard, he mentioned some steps, including allocation of funds for providing allowance at the rate of 30 percent of salary to all members working in traffic division. Besides, providing 25 percent risk allowance of basic salary to all police members and raising the number of family ration consumers from 60 percent to 80 percent, are under active consideration of the government.
He said the decision has been taken to provide Tk 1,000 to Tk 3,000 on the nature of cases for maintaining investigation expenses of cases. The CA lauded the role of police members in different UN peacekeeping missions