Police constables deserve better
Many have this image of a police constable as someone wielding his baton, chasing after peaceful bystanders, unnecessarily harassing the commuter or a rickshaw puller, or taking bribes from anyone he can by exploiting his distress. This enduring image, however incomplete, often comes with unprintable adjectives, which shows that the challenge a constable faces is not just on the streets. But little do we understand or care to know about the kind of life they live as a part of the police force—under strenuous conditions, navigating a gruelling work schedule. Do we ever spare a thought for those constables who, while we enjoy our holidays, are out on the streets to ensure that we are safe?
A constable occupies the lowest rung of the hierarchy in the police force. He has to be ready 24/7 to respond to any call. While the number of police members in Bangladesh has exceeded 200,000 by now—the majority of them being constables—the people-to-police ratio (1:816) is still woefully below the United Nations or international standards. Thus, the law keepers are constantly overworked and consequently physically and mentally overstressed.
As per a report published by this paper, a constable has a long work shift consisting of nearly 12 hours. Considering the other ancillary duties and obligations, they hardly get a full night's rest before starting on the next day's round of duty. And the pay and allowances they get are hardly enough to maintain a family under the present conditions. Therefore, many of them have to resort to irregular means to make both ends meet. It appears from the report that many of the new entrants to the post end up disillusioned by the nature of their duty, because it is not quite what they expected before joining. Instead of excitement, they are facing drudgery. To cap it all, they hardly get a break from their job to go on leave. This takes a heavy toll on them, which some cannot endure and end up taking their own lives.
We believe that there should be a serious analysis of police personnel's duties to see whether they are being employed optimally, and how manpower resources can be managed to make the best use of the existing workforce without excessive pressure on individuals. No human being can work 24/7 or round the year without getting a break. Leave must be allowed under all circumstances, and that calls for efficient HR management. A taxed mind and overworked body are not only inefficient, but prone to making mistakes as well. And if that person happens to be a policeman, it can be very dangerous—for him as well as the public.
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