Dhaka: The Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday passed a bill to form Rangpur Metropolitan Police with a view to improving the law and order and strengthening the police services to ensure public security in Rangpur metropolitan area.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan moved the bill titled ‘‘Rangpur Metropolitan Police Bill, 2018’ in the House which was passed by voice vote, reports the UNB.

In November 2017, the Cabinet approved the draft law to form the separate police force for Rangpur Metropolitan area, which was placed in Parliament on February 11, 2018.

The bill empowered the police force of the metropolitan area to award pecuniary punishment and jail-terms for violation of laws. It can fine up to Tk 10,000 and one-year jail subjected to types of crimes.

The draft law was framed in the light of the existing Sylhet Metropolitan Police Act 2009 and Barisal Metropolitan Police Act, 2009.

As per the bill, the police members will have to execute the orders of the competent authority, apply full power of the police officers concerned to prevent or resist any possible criminal offence and resist all public nuisances.

In 2012, Rangpur City Corporation was formed with 203 square kilometer areas and nearly eight lakh dwellers.