Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner S.M. Sazzat Ali said, regardless of one's identity, no one will escape punishment for committing a crime. Police action has already begun. In an interview with Bangladesh Pratidin on Sunday (March 9) in his office, he said that if the police commit a crime, legal action will be taken against them as well. DMP is following a zero-tolerance policy to maintain discipline. Police officers who served in Dhaka during the fascist era will not be allowed to stay in DMP. They have already been removed, and competent officers are being brought in to replace them. Sazzat Ali answered various questions regarding the law and order situation in the capital, including issues related to police services, mugging, extortion, and robbery, among other contemporary topics.
On August 5, following the fall of the fascist Awami League government, a major reshuffle took place within the police department. S.M. Sazzat Ali was appointed as the new Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). This experienced police officer, who had lost his job during the ousted Awami League government, was reinstated by the Interim Government. He began his career in the BCS Police cadre in 1984, and served as the Deputy Police Commissioner of DMP’s Tejgaon Division. He had held positions as the Superintendent of Police in Lakshmipur, and as the DIG of the Chittagong and Dhaka Ranges. S.M. Sazzat Ali was also in charge of the DIG role during the formation of the Highway Police. He worked at the Police Headquarters as an Additional IGP.
On November 18, S.M. Sazzat Ali was reinstated into service. Based on a court ruling, he was considered reinstated in his position from September 3, 2016. His entitled salary, allowances, and retirement benefits have also been granted. On November 20, he was appointed as the Commissioner of DMP.
The Police Commissioner said, "We saw what a society without police could be like after August 5. The entire country was overwhelmed with theft, mugging, and robbery. In the past few months, we have been able to bring these crimes under control to a large extent. We want to move away from the behavior exhibited by police officers over the last 15 years. This will require some time. Special training is necessary for all officers. It is not possible to change 40,000 police members overnight. Therefore, we have started training. We are focusing on where and how much force should be used."
"Ensuring the safety of Dhaka's residents is our sacred duty. We are working with that goal in mind." S.M. Sazzat Ali said that the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has been deployed against robbers and extortionists. A Citizen Forum will be formed to improve service standards at police stations and handle complex situations. He urged people to solve problems through discussions at the negotiation table rather than on the streets.
When asked about false cases following the political change, the DMP Commissioner responded, "If no evidence or proof of a crime is found, there is nothing to fear. Such cases are being revised. Only the names of the real criminals will appear in the case documents. There will be no cases with 150-200 accused. Some individuals who were not even in the country at the time of the incident have also been made defendants in these cases."
The Commissioner said, after the July Revolution, the police administration was damaged for various reasons. Police officers fell into trauma. After six months of relentless effort, we have been able to bring them out of that condition. Now, they have regained their morale.
When asked what measures are being taken against extortionists and muggers, the DMP chief said that many operations have been carried out over the past month and a half against extortionists and muggers. Many have been arrested red-handed, and some have been caught through block raids. He added that a decision has been made to appoint private personnel as an 'Auxiliary Force' outside of police and other law enforcement agencies for the security of shopping malls and residential areas in the capital.
As per the Metropolitan Police Act, I have the authority to appoint an Auxiliary Police Force. Accordingly, I am recruiting private security personnel as part of the Auxiliary Force. They will wear an identifying band, making it clear that they are part of the Auxiliary Force.
S.M. Sazzat Ali further said, "We are forming Citizen Forums in every police station in the capital. These forums will include representatives from all sections of society, such as students, teachers, and businessmen. They will assist the police. If there is a crisis, social complexity, or an increase in criminal tendencies, the police station's officer-in-charge (OC) will seek their help. The Citizen Forum committee will consist of 10 members, and they can visit the station at any time to provide information and assistance to the OC in various matters."
The DMP Commissioner said that patrol systems have been strengthened, with police stations, outposts, DB, and even the CTTC unit being involved in these activities. A part of the CTTC is working on tackling extortionists and muggers.
When asked about the law and order situation in the capital, S.M. Sazzat Ali said that currently, disturbances in law and order are occurring on the roads. People from various walks of life are taking to the streets with small demands, attempting to resolve issues on the streets, which is disrupting traffic management. He urged everyone to resolve their issues by sitting down at the negotiation table rather than causing disruptions on the streets.
The DMP Commissioner further said, "if any police officer is involved in wrongdoing, they will certainly be punished. Action has been taken against the OC of Gulshan for delaying the acceptance of a case. Several officers have been closed for various offenses. Any officer involved in oppression, torture, abuse of power, or failure to take action on a case will not be allowed to stay in DMP."
He conveyed this message to all officers the very day he joined DMP, and all officers have received this message.
The Police Commissioner said, "Recently, muggings have become a source of fear among people. Most of those involved in these muggings are young drug addicts, aged 20 to 22, who are committing crimes to fund their drug habits. Furthermore, the majority of muggings occur when people are talking on their phones in buses or private cars. To avoid this, keep your mobile phone and bag secure for your own safety. If you stay alert, it will help us assist you. Strict action will be taken against the muggers. In addition to increasing patrols during the day and night, the DB police have also been assigned additional responsibilities."
Translated by ARK/Bd-Pratidin English
