Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for strengthening the programmes of community policing to build a safe and peaceful society and said the police have to be associated with democratic values and more friendly towards people.

Inaugurating the Police Week-2017 at a function at Dhaka Metropolitan Police Lines at Rajarbagh in Dhaka on Monday, the prime minister also laid importance on modernization of the police to cope with the emerging challenges of security and crime caused by transcendence of technology and rapid global changes.

‘Stable law and order is the foremost condition for country’s development. So we consider the expenses for law and order not as expenses but investment,’ she said.

As the prime agency of the country for maintaining law and order the government has given equal importance to development of the police keeping pace with overall development of the country, she added.

The Police Week-2017 has begun with the motto ‘Remedy of Drugs and Militancy: Commitment of Bangladesh Police’.

Talking about terrorism and militancy, the Prime Minister said these are not only the challenges for Bangladesh alone, these are now global problems.

Sheikh Hasina asked the police to be more pro-people changing the colonial attitude.

‘The service of police has to be more pro-people ...change the colonial perception and get integrated with democratic values.’

She directed each and every police personnel to expand their hands of service further with undaunted hearts to help the distressed and helpless people.

The Prime Minister handed over awards in four categories to 132 police members, including police officers, for their outstanding performance in 2016.

Of the police personnel, 26 got Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM), while 41 President Police Medal (PPM), 24 BPM-Service and 41 PPM-Service award for their bravery and courage in their services in last one year.  

Earlier, the Prime Minister reviewed a spectacular parade of different contingents of Bangladesh Police riding an open jeep. She also took salute.

On her arrival at the scene, the Prime Minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque.

Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated ‘Police Liberation War Museum’, ‘Forensic DNA Laboratory of CID’, ‘Cyber Crime Investigation Center’, ‘Cyber Training Center’ and a sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and martyred police members in 1971 named ‘Rajarbagh-71’.

The five day-long Police Week programme also include meetings with the President and the Prime Minister, and holding conference with the Home Minister, annual sports, reunion and annual general meeting of Bangladesh Police Service Association.

The Police Week 2017 will conclude on 27 January.