World standard “Smart Police” to be built: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday vowed to build a world standard "Smart Police" force good at knowledge, science and technology, urging the law enforcing agency to work for upholding people's trust and confidence achieved through services.

"Our target is to build an efficient and world standard "Smart Police" capable in knowledge, science and technology," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating in person the six-day Police Week-2023 in the capital's Rajarbagh Police Lines, after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She expressed her heartfelt greetings to the police for their pro-people service and asked them to keep up the good deeds.

She also urged the law enforcers to ensure maintaining people's confidence in police, hoping that the police would be friendly force as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The premier said, “You (police personnel) will serve the people inspired with the utmost humanitarian perspective”.  

She said her government is set to purchase two Russian helicopters to make the police as a three-dimensional force alongside working to establish a separate aviation wing for it.

"We have already taken measures to buy two helicopters from Russia to make the police as three dimensional force and a process is going on to form a separate aviation unit (of it)," she said.

The premier inspected the parade of the Bangladesh Police by riding on an open jeep and took the salute.

She later handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) Bravery, President Police Medal (PPM) Bravery, BPM-Service and PPM-Service to 115 police officials for making the police proud by setting exemplary standard of bravery and commitment endangering their lives in the year 2022.

Of them, 15 have received the BPM-Bravery and 25 got the PPM-Bravery while 25 got BPM Service and 50 got the PPM-Service awards.

Different police contingents staged a spectacular parade to mark the police week.

On her arrival at the venue, the premier was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md. Aminul Islam Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Cabinet members, parliament members and senior government officials were present.

At the outset of the programme, the national anthem was played.