Village policemen demand salary consistent with prevailing market prices

In order to establish the status of village policemen, the Bangladesh Gram Police Karmachari Union has placed a five-point demand list to the government to provide salaries that are consistent with current market rates, and to include them in the national pay scale.

The demands were made at a human chain organised by the union in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday morning.

In their remarks, the union leaders said even though Bangladesh had witnessed multiple political changeovers in the last 50 years, village policemen had not been able to lift themselves from the lower income group.

The salary allowance, which is inconsistent with the market prices of daily necessities, is crushing their lives, the leaders added.

The speakers further said, with current skyrocketing market prices, how can a family make ends meet with a monthly salary of only Tk7,000 for a "Daffadar" and Tk6,500 for a "Mohalladar"?

But union leaders claimed that even if they receive the government share, they do not, in many cases, get the share and travel allowance given by union councils.

Other demands include introduction of a rationing system for gram police; provision of risk and medical allowances, and declaration of union parishads as administrative units for village police.

The union leaders also demanded that the one-time retirement allowance for village police should be fixed at Tk8 lakh for "Daffadars" and Tk7 lakh for "Mohalladars".

Arrangements should also be made to set up a central directorate, like other forces, building it as a competent and efficient force through training, the leaders said while placing their demands to the government.