Revamp in Cox’s Bazar police, 1340 policemen joining Friday

As part of the authorities' move to reshuffle Cox's Bazar police, 1,340 police members ranking from constable to superintendent of police (SP) are all set to join the district's different police stations on Friday.

Among the police personnel, eight officers-in-charge (OCs), 29 inspectors and constables are going to join Cox's Bazar district police, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Chattogram range Md Anwar Hossain told The Business Standard.

On Thursday, 264 police officers, including eight OCs, 34 inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, and 1,141 constables were transferred from Cox's Bazar.

Prior to this move, the SP of Cox's Bazar police, Masud Hossain, was transferred to Rajshahi. Seven other top police officials of the district were also transferred.

This move of a big reshuffle came following the murder of retired Army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan in police custody on July 31 night on the Cox's Bazar marine drive.

The murder brought Cox's Bazar police into spotlight, with allegations surfacing that police officers of the district were being appointed in the same police station year after year.

The killing incident was followed by the suspension and arrest of the Teknaf Model police station OC, Pradeep Kumar Dutta, and the Shamlapur Investigation Centre's inspector, Liakat Ali.

"There is an allegation that officers were being appointed in the same area again and again for a long time. So, we are bringing in a digital 'man management system'," said the Chattogram DIG Anwar.

Once the digitalisation is complete, there will be a record of time and places of an officer's appointment. In the Chattogram range, there are 23,000 members but the offices are still keeping their records manually even in this modern world, he added.

He further said police are working sincerely to improve the quality of their services. As part of the move, the Chattogram range police has been revamped.

"The main job of police is to maintain law and order. We will work with the highest level of patience, tolerance."

"We attach the highest importance to professionalism during dealing with the people. We will emphasise professionalism in every sphere of life," he added.