Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner SM Sazzat Ali has stated that ‘business’ is being done with the cases related to the deaths in the student-people’s uprising.
Besides, over the past 15 years, 80,000 to 90,000 members have been recruited into the police force based on political affiliations after verifying their identities.
The DMP commissioner made these remarks at the “Meet the Press” event at the DMP Media Center at Minto Road on Monday.
He said that just being named as an accused in such cases does not justify immediate arrest or harassment at people’s homes.
He emphasised that individuals should only be brought under the law if evidence links them to the incident.
In the changed circumstances, Sazzat Ali mentioned that DMP and Bangladesh Police are now working to provide services to the public in a new way.
He said, “Currently, incidents of snatching and robbery are rising. It has been reported to me that snatching has increased. To prevent this, the Detective Branch (DB) and local police have been activated. Extortion is happening, but it will be difficult to stop this if the society does not resist it. Please do not pay such ‘toll’. We, the police, will stand by the people’s side.”
Sazzat Ali expressed sympathy for those who were injured in the student-people’s uprising of July-August 2024, and prayed for the souls of those who were martyred during the protests.
He also acknowledged that during the movement, the DMP faced various challenges, and many officers acted unprofessionally. He apologized for their actions.
The DMP commissioner added that DMP and the police force are now working to provide better service, with several officers who acted unprofessionally during that period being transferred to other areas, and actions being taken against many of them according to the law.
Sazzat Ali also mentioned that the DMP is responsible for ensuring the safety of two 20 million people in Dhaka, despite having a limited number of police officers.
After the events of 5 August, the commissioner noted that the police became somewhat inactive, which led to an increase in killings, robberies, and looting in the city.
He described how ordinary people, including women and elderly citizens, were forced to act as guards in their neighborhoods.
He credited the previous DMP commissioner, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and their colleagues for working tirelessly to restore order.
He highlighted that the city’s primary problem is traffic congestion and stressed that the large number of battery-powered rickshaws must be dealt with to improve the situation. Sazzat Ali also acknowledged the chaos in Dhaka’s traffic management, with many people ignoring traffic laws and hawkers occupying sidewalks.
He also initiated efforts to bring order to the roads and has been increasing traffic law enforcement. He emphasized that improving the traffic system will require the cooperation of Dhaka’s residents.
Regarding the appointment of police officers, Sazzat Ali mentioned that in the past 15 years, 80,000 to 90,000 officers had been recruited based on their political affiliation, with extensive background checks on their and their families’ political associations.
He said, “I cannot simply tell these 80,000 to 90,000 police members to ‘go home’. However, actions are being taken against those who have engaged in misconduct or unprofessional activities.”
