‘80,000 police recruited in 15yrs based on political ties’

NN Online:

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali said on Monday that more than 80,000 police personnel have been recruited over the past 15 years, with their political affiliations being thoroughly examined during the selection process.

He made this remark while replying to a question in his maiden press meet at the DMP media centre on Monday.

He said, “Around 80,000-90,000 out of the two lakh members were recruited after confirming the political affiliation of the candidates, their fathers, grandfathers and even their predecessors through various scrutinises in the last 15 years.

“But, we cannot tell 80 to 90 thousand policemen to go home,” he continued. Replying to another query, the DMP chief said many of the police personnel who went beyond their professional duties have fled soon after the steps are being taken against the wrongdoers.

Sazzat also expressed regret due to unprofessional behaviour of police personnel during the July-August student-people movement following the footsteps of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam who earlier on December 5 last expressed his condolences and apologised to the families of those killed in the July-August mass uprising.