Police scrap PIO amid criticism
The police department cancelled all functions of the newly launched Political Intelligence Office (PIO) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in the wake of severe criticism from political parties and people of various other sectors.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad yesterday told The Daily Star, "We have decided to cancel all functions of the PIO since it drew severe criticism and protest."
"We stopped the PIO functions on August 24 to honour political party leaders and people of various sectors," the IGP said, adding, "The ordinance, however, exists."
Nur Mohammad said personnel who were designated to different jobs at the PIO would be posted elsewhere.
On August 12, the DMP launched the intelligence wing to gather information in advance about the activities of different political parties and their front organisations. The PIO was set up under the DMP Rules, 2006.
Two major political parties--the Awami League (AL) and BNP--had said the PIO was set up to harass political party leaders and activists.
DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed had denied the allegation saying the objective of the PIO was not to harass anyone; it was rather to collect information about any incident quickly so that the police can take preventive measures before it escalated into something bigger, which may become difficult to handle.
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