Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday stressed the urgency for implementing reforms, stating that the government had limited time before elections in December.
鈥榊ou (police) are talking about reform and we are also talking about this.聽 But the interim government does not have much time. Seven months have already passed. Whatever reforms we intend to implement must be completed by then,鈥� Yunus said during a meeting with field-level senior police officers at his office at Tejgaon in the capital Dhaka.
鈥榃e will implement all the reforms that are needed, there is no benefit in waiting for anyone,鈥� he said, adding that the reforms would have to be completed.
Yunus also instructed聽 police not to follow anyone鈥檚 instructions blindly and stay within the boundaries of law.
鈥榊ou do not need to obey the interim government or any other government or anyone who will participate in elections; you will work within the boundaries of law,鈥� he said.
He said, 鈥楽ince the election is approaching, various problems and pressures will arise. Everyone will become desperate. We must remain firm in such situations and stay within the boundaries of law.鈥�
鈥業f we can do this, then the government which will be elected in the future must be a government of law. A government that comes by breaking law can never uphold law, as it has the habit of breaking it,鈥� he said.
鈥楾herefore, this opportunity must ensure that future governments respect law. This responsibility depends on you (police), as the election will be conducted under your watch.鈥�
The chief adviser said, 鈥極ur only fear is that we should not lose our way again. The students have protected us, but we must ensure we do not return to the darkness.鈥�
Expressing concern over issue of violence against women, he asked the police officers to ensure all rights of citizens, including women and national minorities, so they can move anywhere in the country without any fear.
Yunus called on the police officers to remain alert against acts of the force defeated in the July uprising to destabilise the country.
鈥楾he situation will continue to intensify ahead of the election. If we remain cautious, it will not escalate,鈥� he said.
Nothing that technology must be used to ease the activities of the law enforcing agencies in maintaining law and order, he said that online case filing should be introduced.
He said the Bangladesh Police should play a leading role in utilising the opportunity created by the students-people uprising to build a new Bangladesh.
About 127 superintendents of police and senior officers joined the special meeting that was called amid growing concerns over the law and order situation in the country.
The police officers at the meeting pointed out various problems, including lack of logistic supports, to discharge their duties and the chief adviser assured them of providing necessary supports.
The police officers at the meeting admitted that incidents of robbery and mugging increased across the country, but claimed that the overall law and order situation was under control, meeting sources said.
