Policemen involved in 'case business' will be sent home, warns home adviser
Addressing concerns about the police force, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said reforms are already in progress, including the launch of a pilot project aimed at modernising case management
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has issued a stern warning to police officers involved in corruption, particularly in the manipulation of legal cases for personal gain, stating that those found engaging in "case business" would be immediately removed from their posts and sent home.
Speaking to reporters this morning (10 June) following an inspection of the Gacha Police Station in Gazipur metropolitan, the adviser emphasised a zero-tolerance approach to corruption within the police force.
"We have attached 84 officers of various ranks for observation. I have already sent 30 to 40 home. If I need to send another 30 or 40, I will not hesitate to do so if they are found involved in any kind of corruption," he said.
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Jahangir identified corruption as the single most significant challenge facing Bangladesh today. "It has infiltrated every part of our society. If we could bring corruption under control, our country would have progressed much further.
"I urge journalists to help by raising public awareness and reporting the truth. If the media does its job, many problems can be addressed."
Addressing concerns about the police force, the adviser said reforms are already in progress, including the launch of a pilot project aimed at modernising case management. "In the past, people complained that police were unwilling to register General Diaries (GDs) or cases.
"We have taken measures to digitise the case filing process. Citizens can now file GDs online from home. This reduces the need for visits to police stations and minimises harassment."
He also addressed long-standing concerns about abuse in police remand. "From now on, interrogations will take place in transparent, glass-walled rooms so that observers can ensure detainees are not mistreated."
Responding to questions about delays in investigating cases filed after 5 August of last year over the attacks during anti-discrimination protests, Jahangir noted the complications caused by mass accusations. "Previously, the police would file cases naming 10-15 people, with many others listed as unknown.
"This time, complainants themselves named 10-15 individuals and included 200-250 unnamed persons. That's why the investigations are taking time."
He acknowledged that such cases often include both actual perpetrators and innocent individuals in the list of accused. "We will ensure that the guilty are brought to justice, while the innocent are protected from wrongful punishment."
