27 police members jailed in two months over drug allegations: 'We must clean our own house first,' says IGP
A total of 27 police officers and members have been sent to jail in the past two months over allegations of drug involvement, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir has said. He said that to strengthen the police, the force must first clean its own house. That message of a tough stance on internal discipline is now at the centre of discussion.
The IGP made the remarks on Sunday morning at a community policing gathering and press briefing at the Bagerhat District Police Lines auditorium. During his visit to Bagerhat, he spoke in detail about internal discipline, manpower, the vehicle shortage, and the role of community policing in preventing crime.
The IGP said action is being taken against those involved in weakening the force. To implement a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, police members will also be brought under accountability, he said, indicating that anti-drug drives apply with the same strictness to the accused inside the force as to criminals outside it.
The figure of 27 members jailed in two months is the clearest example of that tough stance. The fact that the police chief himself publicly gave the number has added to its significance.
On the vehicle shortage, the IGP said a project has been taken up to buy 5,800 vehicles to address the police's transport crisis. The project was approved last week, he added.
He also outlined plans to address the manpower shortage, saying at least 15,000 new members will be recruited every year. Those two initiatives — buying vehicles and large-scale recruitment — featured in his speech as the core plan to increase the force's capacity.
The IGP called on everyone to come forward to prevent drugs, teen gangs, corruption and other crimes in order to improve the law-and-order situation. Community policing will be made more effective in preventing crime, he said.
He also said committees have been formed with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station to prevent teen gangs, and that this activity will be extended to the union level as well.
Noting that local people hold important information about crime, he urged the public to cooperate with the police. At the same time, he warned everyone to remain alert about instability being created by spreading rumours and false information on social media.
The IGP further said improving the law-and-order situation is essential for the country's economic development. A collective initiative is needed to tackle unemployment, rehabilitate young people and prevent drugs, he commented, expressing hope of building a humane and people-friendly police force with the cooperation of journalists, public representatives and people from different classes and professions.
The meeting was chaired by Bagerhat Superintendent of Police Md Jamilur Islam. Khulna Range DIG Md Rezaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten, Government PC College Principal Parveen Akter, Bagerhat Press Club President Abu Said Shunu, officials of various levels and representatives of civil society were present.
Overall, the main theme of the IGP's speech was clear: no leniency for crime and irregularity inside the force, and public involvement in preventing crime outside it. He presented the jailing of 27 members in two months as the practical application of that policy. Attention will now be on how consistent this accountability remains in the coming days.
