Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said police officials concerned need to be more aware so that Jamaat-Shibir activists and those involved in terrorist and militant acts cannot be recruited to the police force, reported UNB.

The Prime Minister said this replaying to a supplementary question from Tariqat Federation chairman Syed Nozibul Bashar (Chittagong-2).

Hasina said she does not want to interfere in this regard, but it is the duty and responsibility of the police force to look into it so that those who were engaged in terrorist and militant acts and arson attacks, especially during the mayhem unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir in 2013, 2014 and 2015 cannot be recruited in a disciplined force like the police.

Hasina also suggested the members of parliament to provide such information of recruitment of Jamaat-Shibir activists to the police to intelligence agencies. ‘And those information will surely be scrutinised for taking proper steps.’

She said there are certain policies and guidelines for the recruitment of manpower to the police force and the police officials concerned are in charge of it. ‘They (police officials) should keep in mind that the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir men killed 19 of police members.’

Earlier, replying to a starred question from Md Abul Kalam Azad (Gaibandha-4), Hasina informed the House that the proposal for creating 50,000 new posts in the police force as part of enhancing its capacity got approval in principle on January 11, 2015 while already some 13,888 posts have been created for various units. ‘The rest of the posts will be created in phases in line with the demand.’

Out of the newly created 13,888 posts, she said some 7,139 have been created for beefing up the security in Dhaka metropolis while the process of appointment is ongoing against these posts.

Replying to another supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam (Mymensingh-8), she said ‘Joy Bangla Joy Bangabandhu’ slogan had inspired the whole the nation during the Liberation War and finally the nation had been able to gain its independence defeating the Pakistani force.

Turning to her son ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina said what Joy would do in the future depends fully on him.

She said Joy has been helping her government through contributing to various achievements of the country’s bid to becoming Digital Bangladesh. ‘He (Joy) is serving the nation and the country and that is not to take anything. He’ll choose his own path.’

Answering to another supplementary question from Fazilatunnesa Bappi (women seat-30), Hasina said her government has increased the manpower of police at divisional, district, upazila and even union levels while project has been taken to address their accommodation problem.

‘Steps have already been taken to address their accommodation problem and those are being implemented,’ she added.

In this connection, the Prime Minister listed various steps of her government in addressing the accommodation problem of the police in Rajarbagh and other areas after assuming office in 1996.

She said members of the police have been playing an important role in maintaining law and order situation in the country.