Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the police to remain careful so that innocent people are not harassed and tortured during their duties.

‘You need to keep in mind that no innocent person should fall victim to torture and harassment by you,’ she said, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while attending the five-day ‘Police Week-2019’ at Rajarbagh Police Lines with the theme of ‘Build unity of police-people, eliminate drugs-militants’.

Sheikh Hasina said it is the duty of the police to protect mass people from any type of harassment. ‘People expect this from you.’

The Prime Minister said all the police personnel have to perform their duties with sincerity and honesty to gain confidence from the mass people and turn the force into the pro-people police. ‘That’s the thing I want from you.’

Sheikh Hasina said it was urgently needed to maintain law and order for developing the fate of people and build a prosperous Bangladesh. ‘It’s our country and it’s your duty to maintain peace and discipline in the country.’

Mentioning the zero tolerance of police against militancy, terrorism and drugs, the Prime Minister said the ongoing drive against eliminating drugs has to be continued.

‘Apart from this, mass awareness has to be built among people regarding the road safety as there’s a lack of awareness about it among pedestrians,’ she said.

Talking about curbing terrorism in the country, the Prime Minister said a terrorist is just a terrorist.

‘A terrorist has no religion, creed and country…the drive against the terrorists has to be carried on because we want peace, discipline and stability in Bangladesh… we want the development of Bangladesh,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Police symbolizes peace, security and discipline. ‘Imbued with the essence of the War of Independence, its members are accomplishing their delegated responsibilities for the maintenance of law and order with utmost professionalism and unflinching bravery,’ Hasina said.

In the recent 11th parliamentary election, she mentioned, the members of Bangladesh Police have performed their duties with professionalism, ensuring peace and order.

She briefly described various development steps of the Awami League government which had been taken in its previous tenures.

Different police contingents staged a spectacular parade led by Police Super Abida Sultana to mark the Police Week and the Prime Minister riding an open jeep visited the parade and took salute.

Cabinet members, parliament members, senior government officials witnessed the ceremony.

On her arrival at the venue, the Prime Minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Mohammad Javed Patwary.

The Prime Minister handed over awards in four categories to 349 police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, for their outstanding performance, bravery, combating crime, cracking important cases, efficiency, honesty and discipline.

According to the gazette of the Home Ministry issued on January 29, 40 policemen got Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-gallantry) while 62 President Police Medal (PPM-gallantry), 104 Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-Service) and 143 President Police Medal (PPM-Service) awards for their bravery and courage in their services in the last one year.

RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, DMP Additional Commissioner and CTTC chief Monirul Islam, DIG at the Police Headquarters Anwar Hossain, RAB Additional DGs Col Anwar Latif Khan, Col Md Jahangir Alam, Chief of Special Branch Mir Shahidul Islam, Additional IGPs Mainur Rahman Chowdhury, Iqbal Bahar, Deputy Inspector General Habibur Rahman and Deputy Commissioner of CTTC Proloy Kumar Joarder received the awards this year.

Besides, Inspector Jalal Uddin and Constable Shamim Mia got awards of BPM posthumously as they were killed while in service.

Each of the BPM awardees will get an allowance of Tk 1 lakh once and Tk 1,500 per month while each of the awardees of BPM-service will be given Tk 75,000 once and Tk 1,000 monthly.

However, each of the PPM awardees will get an allowance of Tk 75,000 once and Tk 1,500 monthly while each of the PPM-service awardees will get Tk 50,000 once and Tk 1,000 monthly.

The awardees will continue to get the monthly allowance during his or her service period and even during pension.