Police on Monday pressed for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention in cancelling Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act-2013.
This Act has been used to protect victims by taking legal action against errant cops.
Tanvir Salehin Emon, Additional Superintendent of Police Comilla district, urged the premier at the welfare parade organised on the occasion of Police Week 2017 at Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka.
The welfare parade was organised for the first time. It was much like the Darbar of Bangladesh Army or Border Guard Bangladesh. At the parade, a total of six demands were placed to the Prime Minister, including this one.
The parade is a platform where all police officials- from top level to bottom- can place their demands to
premier directly.
"Police need to interrogate the accused in custody for combating terrorism, but in many cases, it was seen that the accused have been misusing the law as a safeguard," said the ASP.
Due to the issue, many police officials are being discouraged to interrogate the accused while many may have been losing their spirit in work, added Tanvir Salehin.
He demanded premier's intervention in cancelling the law to help police perform its duties properly.
In response, PM Sheikh Hasina said she will not comment on the matter as the law was passed in Parliament and the Supreme Court has some observations.
PM said if any one files a false case, then police will investigate it. If found false, then you will take action against them in line with the law.
The other demands from police include allocation of three sets of uniform to police annually instead of current two sets, 10 percent reserved quota in police for dependents of its officials, construction of a modern and well equipped hospital with 10-bed Intensive Care Unit, resolution of accommodation crisis through setting up staff quarters or battalions quarters and allotment of more land to set up proper police station with proper working atmosphere.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was present at the programme, said police force is loyal to the citizens.
A total of 41,000 recruits, out of 50,000 as instructed by the Prime Minister, have already been taken in the police force, he said. Kamal also said the demands made by officials are logical and assured them of meeting the demands.
PM Sheikh Hasina said the demand of increased uniform is logical and asked the Home Minister and the Home Secretary to look into the matter.
Hasina said she had plans about the dormitory, police station, and other logistics support in districts and upazila and she will look into it.
About hospital for cops, she said every single hospital in the country will have separate seats for members of the police force where hospitals have to treat injured or sick police officials immediately.
