Police Service Association condemns ex-Jamaat MP's call to control law enforcers
“This amounts to an overly political statement about an important state institution like the police in a democratic country,” the association said.
The Bangladesh Police Service Association has strongly criticised remarks by former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, who told supporters that police should be brought under the party's control and perform as they wish.
In a protest statement issued yesterday (24 November), the association said it has taken note of the former MP's comments, made at a party gathering of Jamaat's electoral officials in Chattogram's GEC Convention Centre on 22 November.
Quoting his speech, the association said the former MP told supporters, "In every constituency, the administration must be brought under our control. They must act on our instructions – stand when we say, sit when we say, arrest when we say, and file cases when we say. The police must follow you, and the officer-in-charge of the station will learn about your programme in the morning and give you protocol."
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The association said, "This amounts to an overly political statement about an important state institution like the police in a democratic country."
"The Bangladesh Police Service Association condemns and protests such ambitious and disparaging remarks made by political leaders about the police," it said in the statement signed by Md Anisuzzaman, superintendent of police for Dhaka district and general secretary of the association.
The association stressed that the Bangladesh Police operate under the Constitution and statutory laws. It said for 17 years, a section of ambitious officers had enabled political misuse of the force, creating distance between police and the public.
Since the student-led uprising of 5 August, however, police had been performing their duties in a "highly neutral and proper manner", the statement said. It added that the force was not acting in favour of, or against, any political group and was working to become a "people's police".
With the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 2026, the association said police were approaching the polls with strict neutrality. "The days of being a political servant to fulfil anyone's ambitions are long gone," it said.
The statement reiterated that police officers carry out their duties in line with the law and public welfare, and remain accountable only to the people.
Earlier, on 23 November, the remarks of Shahjahan Chowdhury, a central Majlish-e-Shura member of Jamaat-e-Islami, were rejected by the party.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami clarified that the recent statement by former MP Shahjahan reflects his personal opinion.
In a statement, Jamaat's assistant secretary general and Chattogram region director, Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan, said, "We expect the administration will carry out its responsibilities professionally. There is nothing to interfere in it."
The Jamaat leader said, "We have seen the statement. This is purely his own view. He can explain it himself. Jamaat does not support this statement."
He further mentioned that the party immediately drew Shahjahan Chowdhury's attention to it and is taking internal measures regarding the matter.
