Home Adviser Lt Gen (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said police personnel, remained absent from duties for long would be considered as criminals and brought to book.
“Some 187 police officials have remained absent from their duties. They would have to be exposed to justice as they are now criminal to us,” he said afrer emerging from the 2nd meeting of the law and order affairs advisory council at the Home Ministry in the caoital.
The Police Headquarters in a statement on September 17 said some 187 police officials, including one Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and seven additional DIGs, have remained absent in their duties since August 1, 2024.
Some 96 of them are now on overstay on leave, 49 are irregular in service, three quitted jobs willingly and remained absent and 39 others are also absent.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a mass uprising, most of the police officers went into hiding.
The uprising was triggered by large-scale student-led protests, during which law enforcement used excessive force and fired upon the crowds.
This brutal crackdown resulted in several hundred deaths and thousands of injuries.
The Home Adviser said they were planning to recruit new police personnel in the force saying that an advertisement of appointing more police constables in the force has already been published.
“While advertisement for recruiting sub inspectors would be published in a day or two. Members of BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and Ansar would also be recruited,” he said.
Chowdhury expressed the hope that the law and order situation across the country would be improved further soon.
“The law and order situation in the country was satisfactory… I hope, the more days will go, and the law and order situation would improve more,” he said.
He urged all concerned to extend all-out cooperation to maintain law and order for the greater national interest.
In the meeting, the advisory councils have discussed many issues including taking steps for further improvement of law and order especially in CHT region and Rohingya camps as well, taking measures for ensuring security in the areas where garments and pharmaceuticals factories are located and Durga Puja mandaps.
About security in Ready-Made Garments (RMG) factory, Chowdhury said they discussed the issues prominently and decided to ensure security in the areas.
Asked about the situation in the CHT region, the home adviser said, “The situation in the CHT region is now better. We will discuss on how to maintain the situation in the CHT areas.”
Giving a brief description about the initiatives to stop drug trading, he said steps have to be taken to arrest godfathers of drug trading to contain the menace.
He stressed on ensuring trial of the godfathers of the drugs saying that in most of the cases they used to release from jail and again return to their old business.
Replying to another question, the home adviser said that he has already told the department concerned to take effective measures to ensure trial of the convicted top criminals and militants as well.
Members of the law and order affairs advisory council attended at the meeting.
