Police on alert over Awami League activities in August: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (2 August) said police across the country have been put on alert following reports of activities by the banned Awami League this month.

He made the remarks while addressing the basic training passing-out parade of probationary assistant superintendents of police from the 27th BCS (Police) cadre as the chief guest at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi.

"Activities of the banned Awami League are being seen in the month of August. For this reason, police across the country have been alerted," he said.

Responding to a question about the recent recovery of bombs in Dhaka's Motijheel and Ashulia, the home minister said separate investigations are underway into both incidents.

He said bomb recoveries have declined proportionately over the past six months compared with the previous government's tenure and do not indicate any dangerous trend.

"Even so, we are on alert. The bomb disposal unit has been kept ready round the clock," he said.

Earlier, addressing the passing-out parade as the chief guest, Salahuddin said the police are not the muscle force of any political party or group but a professional, modern and humane force that will remain free from political influence and maintain a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.

He said members of the 27th BCS (Police) cadre had been deprived of joining the service for nearly 18 years under an "illegal government".

He said, having overcome that deprivation, they now have a responsibility to uphold the chain of command, contribute to state transformation, establish a discrimination-free society, uphold the rule of law and restore public confidence.

He also said the police force, like other state institutions, had been damaged during the tenure of the "fascist Hasina government", adding that action has been taken and will continue against police personnel involved in disciplinary breaches and criminal activities.

The home minister urged police officers to develop technical skills to tackle digital crime and strengthen cyber security so they can better serve the public.

Earlier, Salahuddin received the salute of the probationary assistant superintendents of police and inspected the parade. He later presented awards to officers who excelled in different categories during the training.

The passing-out parade included 57 officers – 53 men and four women from the 27th BCS (Police) cadre, along with one officer from the 28th BCS batch.

Although they passed the 27th BCS examination, the officers were denied appointments for nearly a decade and a half before receiving appointment recommendations through a legal process.

Their one-year basic training at the Bangladesh Police Academy was shortened to six months.

Fifty-six probationary assistant superintendents have already been attached to different districts for practical training.

The remaining six months of training will be completed in two phases over the next two years.

While they undergo field-level training in districts, their primary postings will remain at Police Headquarters in Dhaka.

Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, members of parliament and senior government officials attended the ceremony.

Among the award recipients, Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Nurul Huda Bhuiyan received both the Best Probationer and Best in Field Activities awards.

Abu Noman Mohammad Khairul Islam won the Best Academic Award, while ABM Mamun was named Best Shooter