‘Stuffing ballot box’: Police association rejects Japan ambassador’s comment

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) has rejected Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki’s comment on police stuffing ballot boxes at night before electi ons terming it baseless and requested to withdraw that particular part of his speech.
Every member of the Bangladesh Police was shocked and embarrassed by his speech.
In a protest letter issued on Thursday, the association requested the Japanese diplomat to withdraw that particular part of his speech he delivered at a programme of “Meet the Ambassador” in the capital on November 14.
The letter signed by BPSA President Monirul Islam, also chief of special branch of police, and General Secretary Md Asaduzzaman, also Superintendent of Police in Dhaka, stated that the ambassador’s allegation against police was baseless and unwarranted.
Earlier on Monday (Nov 14), Japanese ambassador in a progarmme “Meet the Ambassador” in the capital said “I have heard that in the last election police personnel stuffed the ballot boxes at night before the voting. I have never heard of such an instance in any other country.”
After such remarks of Japanese envoy, a number of government ministers expressed their reactions and urged the foreign diplomats to refrain from making comments about the internal issues of Bangladesh.
In protest to the speech, Bangladesh Police Service Association said, “The actual information regarding the role of Bangladesh Police in the elections is that police provides security and maintains law and order during the election following the instructions of the Election Commission.
Beyond this, the statement continued, the police have no other role in the selection of candidates for voters or casting their ballots.
“Bangladesh Police provides assistance in conducting fair election as per the instructions of the Election Commission with utmost professionalism in all elections. Such a statement by the Japanese ambassador about a professional force like Bangladesh Police is unwelcomed and unexpected.”
The BPSA letter said, “Bangladesh Police provides assistance in holding fair election as per the instructions of the Election Commission with utmost professionalism in all elections.
Referring to the good economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries, the police association said Ito Naoki’s comments have disappointed every member of the Bangladesh Police and created confusion in general public’s mind.
“In view of this comment, the Bangladesh Police Service Association is requesting him to withdraw the said part of his speech,” added the statement.