Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all irrespective of political views to extend cooperation in resisting terrorist and subversive activities unleashed by BNP and Jamaat.
She reiterated that there is no place for creating violence and carrying terrorist acts in the country.
"The scale of terrorism and violence perpetrated by BNP and Jamaat cohorts has caused a big threat to the country's image abroad as well as ongoing development," said the Prime Minister while addressing the inaugural function of the Bangladesh Police Week-2015 at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the city on Tuesday.
"I urge everyone to unite and stand against the terrorists and militants," she appealed.
Sheikh Hasina said that a country can economically prosper only if peace is prevailed. But people are in pains as innocent people are falling victim to violent attacks, especially, arson and petrol bomb attacks carried out by activists of BNP and Jamaat.
"Even the minor children are not spared from their violence and they are also enforcing hartal and siege programmes on the important religious events and Biswa Ijtema," she said.
The Prime Minister said the country was running smoothly for the last one year since the last general election. However, BNP-Jamaat without any reason have started the current spell of heinous activities, she said, urging the parties to stop the violence.
PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, State Minister for Home Affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Inspector General of Police (IGP) A K M Shahidul Hoque and senior officials of police were present on the occasion. PM's Special Envoy former president HM Ershad, leader of the opposition Rowshan Ershad, cabinet members, state ministers and senior government officials attended the function.
The Prime Minister termed petrol bomb attacks on innocent bus passengers and pulling out fishplates of railway tracks as heinous acts. She called upon the BNP-Jamaat leaders to refrain from such subversive acts.
"I want the country's people to stay in peace, Bangladesh to become a peaceful country in South Asia, and there'll be no place for violence, militancy or terrorism," she said adding that a peaceful environment can ensure economic prosperity and development.
Hasina alleged that when Bangladesh is recognized globally with various awards and honours as well as attaining massive socio-economic development, the BNP-Jamaat alliance has been tarnishing the country's image without any reason.
Referring to the forgery of the six US congressmen's signatures and spreading the news of fake telephone conversations between BJP chief Amit Shah and BNP chief Khaleda Zia, Hasina said. "They've stampeded Bangladesh's image globally through such falsehoods."
She urged the members of Bangladesh Police to discharge their duties properly alongside gaining the trust and confidence of the common people. The Prime Minister said she wants each and every member of police to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism in securing public safety as per the existing law of the land. "Police should be the friends of the common people as they are their last resort."
Mentioning that members of the police now have to face various challenges like tackling cyber crime, money laundering, smuggling of drugs and goods, human and child trafficking, protecting the marine and forest resources and environment, Hasina said her government has a plan to provide them with whatever necessary or logistic supports to face such challenges.
The Prime Minister also asked the members of the police to help build a hunger- and poverty-free middle-income country by 2021 and a prosperous developed country by 2041 through ensuring peace and security.
Turning again to the countrywide destruction and subversive acts unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat and their allies, Hasina said when the country is moving ahead economically over the last one year, the BNP-Jamaat without any reason are carrying out terrorist and subversive acts in the name of hartal and blockade.
The Prime Minister thanked the police force for their sincere and responsible role in preventing with life risk the heinous activities of killing of women and children hurling petrol bombs in passenger buses, killing of innocent people in the name of hartal and blockade and other terrorism and violence in the recent years by BNP and Jamaat.
Terming the Bangladesh Police as the symbol of peace, security and discipline and the main shelter for the common people, she said the sacred duty of the police is to maintain internal security, establish the rule of law and establishing human rights.
Highlighting various steps of the Awami League government to build a pro-people, professional and modern force, Hasina said some 31,744 posts, including 739 cadre posts have already been created in the police.
She said the government has already announced to create some 50,000 posts to increase manpower in the police force while the present trend of forming specialised unit, increase necessary vehicles and infrastructure facilities would continue.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took salute at a parade performed by different units of the Bangladesh Police. Riding a well-decorated open jeep, she reviewed the parade where Police Super Mohammad Haider Ali Khan was the parade commander.
Hasina also adorned the badges of Police Padak-2014 to 86 officials and constables in four categories for their outstanding contributions to providing services to the people and demonstrating their professional excellence.
Ten of them were awarded Bangladesh Police Medal-BPM (Sahosikata) and 20 were given BPM (Seba). Sixteen police personnel were given President Police Medal- PPM- (Sahosikata) and 40 were awarded PPM (Seba).