Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated on Monday that no one should be arrested or harassed merely because a case has been filed against them. Action will be taken only after investigation confirms responsibility, he assured.
Speaking at a press conference organized at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Monday afternoon as part of Police Week celebrations, the IGP emphasized that clear instructions have been issued across all levels of the police to avoid unnecessary arrests or harassment of innocent individuals.
In response to a question regarding alleged harassment through fabricated cases, the police chief admitted, "The cases are genuine, but we haven't been able to curb the trend of inflating the number of accused. This limitation exists within the current legal framework."
He added, "Since August 5, we have noticed that although a crime might involve only five to ten individuals, sometimes cases are filed naming 300 people, often for dishonest motives, to extort money or intimidate others."
Highlighting the police's efforts to address this issue, the IGP said, "We want to stop the misuse of case filings for harassment. I personally intervene by calling police stations when needed." He urged citizens to report any misuse directly to senior police officials.
Finally, he appealed to the public: "Please point out our mistakes and shortcomings, but do not make any unjust demands."
