OC from Bhola will struggle if suddenly posted to Gulshan: DMP chief
The commissioner noted that the DMP is a complex and unique force, where law and order situations, crime patterns and policing strategies differ significantly from those in rural areas.
The officers-in-charge (OCs) transferred directly from rural police stations often face serious difficulties when assigned to elite areas of the capital, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali said today (3 January).
"If an OC from Tazumuddin Police Station in Bhola is suddenly appointed as the OC of Gulshan, it becomes very difficult for him to function effectively," he said while speaking at an award ceremony of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium.
The commissioner noted that the DMP is a complex and unique force, where law and order situations, crime patterns and policing strategies differ significantly from those in rural areas.
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"Being an OC in Dhaka requires a different kind of control capacity," he added.
Referring to recent transfers and appointments ahead of the national election, Sazzat said although there has been widespread reshuffling within the police force, a different strategy was adopted for Dhaka.
"To avoid complications, OCs within the capital were appointed through a lottery system among Dhaka-based officers, rather than bringing officers from rural areas."
However, he acknowledged limitations in this approach as well. "Even if an OC from Sabujbagh is posted to Mohammadpur through the lottery, the control capacity required in Mohammadpur is very different, making the job challenging."
Despite these constraints, the DMP commissioner said police personnel are continuing to perform their duties. He expressed hope that if law and order can be maintained over the next 40 days, a free and fair election would be possible.
He said the election is now the top priority for the police, warning that the situation could become more complex once election campaigning begins around 21 or 22 January. "Ensuring the security of polling centres and curbing violence and criminal activities will require maximum preparedness."
Speaking on relations between police and journalists, Sazzat said he wants to build an effective bridge between the media and the DMP.
He also urged caution to prevent police officers from being unfairly harmed due to excesses or errors during professional reporting.
