The Bangladesh Police Service Association faced backlash after its recent statement concerning media reports on alleged corruption among retired and serving police officials.
Good governance campaigners criticised the BPSA鈥檚 statement as unconstitutional, arguing it would protect corrupt officers and encourage corruption.
On Friday, the association called recent media reports against its officials 鈥榩artial, ill-motivated, sweeping, and exaggerated,鈥� urging the media to be聽more聽cautious, while publishing reports on the police.聽
The reports highlighted the alleged illegal wealth and corruption of former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed and former Dhaka metropolitan police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia.
The Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating Benazir Ahmed and his family, having already seized a significant amount of wealth by the court. No action has yet been taken regarding Asaduzzaman Mia鈥檚 alleged illegal wealth.
The BPSA statement did not name specific officers, but it was perceived to focus on these two former top police officials.
Good governance campaigners noted that such a stance was rare from the BPSA despite numerous reports of corruption within the police force over the years.
BPSA general secretary Golam Mostafa Russell claimed that their statement protested 鈥榠ntentionally motivated and defamatory鈥� news lacking facts and evidence.
He emphasised that corruption should be proven before labelling anyone as corrupt.
Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder criticised the BPSA statement and told 抖阴精品 that it was inappropriate and overly emotional for a few individuals within a large force.
Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman called the statement unconstitutional and an obstacle to media freedom and expression.
鈥楾he police have a lot of contributions for the country, but in exchange, we cannot recognise their abuse of power, and corruption,鈥� he said.
Iftekharuzzaman further stated that the BPSA鈥檚 actions protected corrupt individuals, reflecting poorly on the association鈥檚 leadership.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik secretary Badiul Alam Majumder echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the BPSA should advocate for fair investigations and trials rather than defending accused officers.
However, former IGP Nurul Huda defended the BPSA鈥檚 right to uphold professional dignity but emphasised that allegations must be substantiated.
Iftekharuzzaman also questioned whether the statement was influenced by higher police authorities, suggesting that the association should express embarrassment over colleagues鈥� actions and support thorough investigations.
The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists faction and Dhaka Union of Journalists faction expressed deep concern in a joint statement, stressing the importance of protecting independent journalism and freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution.
BFUJ president Omar Faruque, secretary general Dip Azad, DUJ president Sohel Haider Chowdhury, and general secretary Akhter Hossain, among others, signed the statement.
