Policemen leading protests in Rajarbagh over transfer fears
Action is being taken against subordinate members who lead.
Seven people were transferred outside Dhaka, a few more in the process.
Case against two coordinators under Cyber Security Act, arrested
Amanur Rahman Roni, Dhaka
Published: 02 October 2024, 08:31
https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/359989
Rajarbagh Police Lines
Rajarbagh Police Lines. file image
After the fall of the Awami League government, action is being taken against the subordinate policemen who led the 11-point strike at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital. Already two have been booked under the Digital Security Act and some have been transferred out of the capital. There have been allegations of warning someone. Fear of lawsuits and transfer-fear has arisen among the subordinate members of the police.
The police headquarters said that transfers and postings are going on in all police departments as part of the regular process. It has nothing to do with that movement. And a case has been filed on the specific charge of inciting disorder in the force. Work is going on with the 11-point demands of the subordinate members.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, angry mobs attacked, vandalized, set fire to, and looted weapons and police stations across the country, including the capital Dhaka. 46 members of the police were killed.
216 structures were burnt. The subordinate members of the police started protest and continuous strike at Rajarbagh Police Lines from the next day on August 6 with 11-point demands including investigation of incidents of police killings and attacks, transparency in recruitment, reform of police law. It is led by the Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Organization. On August 11, after a meeting with the then Home Affairs Advisor of the Interim Government Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain at the Secretariat, the agitators' coordinator Inspector Zahidul Islam and Constable Shoaib Hasan announced the withdrawal of the strike.
According to related sources, 19 coordinators led the movement of subordinate members of the police. Some of them were also active on social media. They give various posts on Facebook.
According to the sources of the police headquarters, there is a delay in restoring order in the police due to the negative impact due to incitement in those writings. So legal action has been taken against some. After that, the Facebook page named 'Police Reform Movement' was closed.
Sources said some of the members who led the agitation at Rajarbagh Police Lines and attended the meeting with the adviser at the Secretariat have already been transferred outside Dhaka. Among them, one inspector has been transferred to Manikganj, one of two sub-inspectors (SI) has been transferred to Chittagong, one sergeant has been transferred to Mymensingh and three constables have been transferred to different ranges. A few others are in the process of transfer. Some of them have been called and warned by senior officials. If they write on social media, they have been informed about departmental arrangements and transfer decisions. There is fear of transfer among the subordinate members.
A policeman who has already been transferred, on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that they did not do any indiscipline. Spoke in the interest of the police force. But now they have been transferred.
A woman sergeant complained that her superiors called her and warned her. A constable, who did not wish to be named, said that he did not know who put his name in the coordinator's list. If you see the name in that list and transfer, you will go to the new workplace.
Meanwhile, one of the coordinators of the movement, Constable Showaibur Rahman and Naik Sajib Sarkar, have been booked under the Cyber Security Act at Shahjahanpur police station and arrested. They were arrested on September 16. They were remanded twice. In the case, they have been accused of posting inflammatory posts using their Facebook IDs to spread enmity between different classes and communities.
However, no one has been transferred due to the agitation, said Enamul Haque Sagar, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Public Relations and Media Wing of Police Headquarters. He said, not only the subordinates but also the superiors have been transferred. The committee is working on their 11 point demands. If the committee recommends, action will be taken on the claim. The case is different.
When asked, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nurul Huda said that the accountability of all members of the police should be ensured in order to overcome this situation. It would be good for all if the police force is not accountable to any political party or individual, but only to the judiciary.
