Such a picture of a busy, commercial city of Chittagong is completely unknown. It seems that there is silence all over the metropolis. The Nasirabad-Sholashahar, which is notorious for traffic jams and crowds at normal times, is empty almost now.
The GEC junction connects many important roads in Chittagong. There is no suffocating crowd and confusion. Everyone is moving carefully and comfortably. I want to know how the situation has improved, to the police sergeant Saiful Islam who is on duty there.
He told barta24.com, ‘The situation was not like that at the beginning of the corona outbreak. Ordinary people did not care about social distancing and quarantine. The situation has changed day by day. People have become aware.’
He said, ‘Members of the police force are patrolling day and night from the main roads of the city to the neighborhoods and slums along with miking several regulations. Each member of the police force is playing a strict role to stop unnecessary crowds, gossip and hangouts.
Throughout the day, in the afternoon, evening and night, members of the police force can be seen patrolling the neighborhoods of Chattogram. Everyone is being encouraged by the police to stay at home by keeping social distancing and quarantine.
There is no doubt that those who are playing a leading role in the fight against corona in Bangladesh; the Bangladesh Police Force is one of them. From the British period to the present, especially during the war of liberation, the Bangladesh Police played a bright role. Doctors, members of the military-civilian administration as well as members of the police force are fighting like heroes all the time to stop the ongoing corona attack.
As of Sunday (May 3), five members of the police force died, 854 had been attacked, 1,050 were in quarantine and 315 were in isolation in the ongoing battle against Corona.
In the corona situation, the pro-people image of the Bangladesh Police has been more clearly projected. As a government agency, the police department has once again shown a bright position in sacrifice, hard work and conscience. Personally, we know many police officers who are always serving the people as well as they are, with honesty and dedication. Seeing their work, the idea about the police is very bright.
In particular, in addition to maintaining a general law and order situation, Bangladesh Police has always shown courage in times of disaster. It never hesitated to serve the people. The police can do a lot if they want; they have the capacity, which is proven at home and abroad.
Members of the Bangladesh Police have made a name for themselves by working in UN peacekeeping missions. Although there are various allegations against the police of many developed countries in the peace mission, there are not many allegations against the police and army of Bangladesh. They have set an example for world peace.
As a result, there is hope among all that Bangladesh Police is able to play a successful role in peacekeeping in UN peacekeeping missions, they are also showing that skill and capability in the corona disaster. In fact, it is through work that the police force has succeeded in gaining the confidence of the people.
It has been noticed that in the horrible situation of corona, the scene of extreme inhumanity has emerged in our country. Such as throwing a sick mother on the street, socially attacking corona patients and their relatives with sticks. Not only in maintaining social awareness in corona, but also in the various humanitarian needs, the brave members of Bangladesh Police have come forward.
Members of the police force are constantly working on social distancing on the road, providing relief on their own initiative, cooperating to ensure medical services. As a result, many of the police members had to die due to corona attack. Yet they did not lose morale. They are still working relentlessly. By working in the end, the members of the police force are upholding the high standard of dedicating themselves to the needs of the country and the nation.
The corona situation has enhanced the reputation and prestige of the police as well as their direct involvement with the people. The image that has been created of the police in the existing situation must be kept intact at all costs. Attempts to corrupt the police by using them for vested political interests must also be stopped.
The activities of the police should be free from all kinds of political touts and brokers. Direct public relations with the police need to be intensified. We also need to create a positive trend in the treatment of the people by the police.
Various studies have shown that members of the police force face many challenges in conducting policing activities. They are hindered in many cases while enforcing the law. The power of political touts, economic elites and high-ranking officials has made the police powerless to enforce the law. This problem must be solved immediately. In addition, in order to maintain the current image of the police, their participation in all kinds of good activities of the society should be increased at all times.
Police in Bangladesh usually deal with traditional security, unconventional security as the definition of security has changed in the present era, such as poverty alleviation, eradication of illiteracy, ensuring health care, working for the poor, working for street children, keeping slum dwellers away from crime The police have a lot of work to do in terms of unconventional security. These actions will reduce the distance between the police and the people. The police will become a symbol of trust and confidence of the deprived people of the society.
At the same time, the police must be held accountable for their actions.
At the same time, as much as it is necessary to ensure accountability of the work of the police, it is also necessary to reduce the additional pressure on the police. They cannot manage policing properly if they are under pressure to work together. They have to give importance to social and family life. If the police have to be treated humanely, then the police will also treat the citizens humanely and will be able to accelerate the development journey of Bangladesh with the people.
The police force formed in the undivided British-Bengali tradition had a reputation all over the world. The Bengal Police has also played a very important role in Scotland Yard. Later, as a result of partition, political upheaval and deterioration of good governance, the police force also had to face various problems. Moreover, through competent leadership, this force has repeatedly tried to maintain the confidence and trust of the people.
Once in Kolkata, in the face of the extreme degradation of the West Bengal police, the leadership of Soumen Mitra restored the pride of the police there. Soumen Mitra Mphil, who studied history at St. Xavier's, Presidency, Jawharlal University, Delhi, was involved in heritage, wildlife conservation, cricket and chess, Intelligence, in addition to research, which has had a positive impact on restructuring and mobilizing the police force.
There are now many highly educated and highly trained officers at different levels of leadership of Bangladesh Police who are well versed in professional, intellectual and multi-dimensional skills. In particular, the current Chief of Police, Dr. Benazir Ahmed, is rich in experience in performing the duties of the RAB with great success and has professional achievements and success at home and abroad. Everyone is hopeful that the traditional Bangladesh Police Force will play a pioneering role in all the needs of the country and the nation, not only during the corona period, but also in the people-friendly image under the present smart leadership.
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Associate Editor, Barta24.com and Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Chittagong. Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Chittagong.