Rajshahi: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked new police officers to devote themselves to the development of the country and the nation by facing the current and future challenges with courage and sincerity.

‘It’s my expectation that you would retain the image of Bangladesh Police and uphold the glorious role the members of Bangladesh Police played during the great War of Liberation,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina also directed them to earn the people’s confidence by handling their problems from sincere and human outlook.

‘You will have to keep in mind that the people seek your help when they fall into a danger. So you will have to gain confidence of the mass people through giving legal services and humane behaviour,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the passing-out parade of the 33^rd batch of Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Rajshahi in the morning. Sheikh Hasina took salute, reviewed the parade riding on an open jeep. She also distributed medals among the best probationary ASPs.

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, Principal of the Academy Nayeem Ahmed and Vice-Principal Amulya Bhushan Barua were present, among others.

The Prime Minister also directed the fresh police officers to give utmost priority to the fundamental rights of the people, human rights and the rule of law.

‘I hope you will ensure punishment of the wicked and fostering the good,’ she said.

Spelling out her government steps for the development of the police force, Sheikh Hasina said whenever Awami League formed the government, it gave the highest priority to maintaining law and order situation and worked for the welfare of the law enforcement agencies.

‘Our aim is to build a time-befitting modern police force to face the challenge of the 21stcentury and for this, we have taken various realistic and people-friendly programmes,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said though 32,031 posts including 733 cadre posts have been created in the police organogram, it’s not adequate in ratio of the country’s population.

Taking this into consideration, she said, the government has taken a decision to create 50,000 more post in Bangladesh Police.

‘The recruitment of 10,000 police members has already been completed and the recruitment activities of the remaining manpower would be finished soon,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the formation of metropolitan police in Rangpur and Gazipur is at the final stage. The issue of procurement of necessary vehicles and other equipment is our active consideration,’ she said.

A total of 161 ASPs, including 26 female ones, passed the course.

The Prime Minister distributed medals among the best police officers of the course.

ASP Md Hasinuzzaman conducted the parade as parade commander.

Among the trainees, Pankaj Barua received the award of ‘Best Probationer’, while Rezwana Chowdhury took the award of ‘Best Academic’ and Faruk Ahmed the award of the ‘Best Rider’ from the Prime Minister.

Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the first-ever gallery at the parade ground and two guest houses named Tarunima and Urmi at the Police Academy.