Dhaka: Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Sunday said no member of the law enforcement agencies can torture or humiliate any citizen even if he or she creates obstacle to their duties during search and interrogation on the streets.

‘If anyone violates the law, don’t torture them…take them to the police station concerned following legal procedures,’ he told law enforcers.

The police chief was addressing a press briefing at the Police Headquarters.

The press briefing was organised on the occasion of the Police Week 2016 scheduled to begin on 26 January.

Shahidul Hoque said they will not allow any policeman to resort to physical torture as the law does not permit it. ‘We take departmental action if any member of the police is found involved in such act,’ he said.

He, however, admitted that unprofessional behaviours and deviation of a very few police members often push the force on the brink of blurring many big achievements. ‘We always maintain a tough stance when it comes to discipline. Bangladesh Police will never take the responsibility of any crime committed by any individual police member,’ the IGP said.

He requested all not to blame the police department for the misdeed of an individual cop as it may demoralise the police members in providing service and security to people.

Citing statistics, the IGP said 709 police members appealed to the administrative tribunal in the last five years against the departmental actions taken against them. Of them, 293 were exempted from the charges, he said.

‘It means 40 percent of the policemen facing departmental actions get acquittal or get their punishment commuted by the administrative tribunal,’ he said, adding that this proves no policeman is spared with respect to discipline.

About the upcoming Police Week, the IGP said 102 police officers and members will be given awards during the week. Nineteen of them, including six posthumously, will get BPM (Bravery) awards while 23 BPM (Service), 20 BPM and 40 PPM (Service) awards.

During the Police Week, field-level police officers will attend a number of working sessions with the home minister, home secretary and IGP alongside a views-exchange meeting on law and order with the prime minister.

A work plan will be prepared for the next one year after reviewing activities of the last year, Shahidul Hoque said.

Comparing the crime statistics of the last five years, the IGP claimed that the law-and-order situation is now stable in the country.

Heads of Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department and Rapid Action Battalion, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner and senior police officers were also present at the press briefing.