Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said the police are not protectors of any political party, stressing that the force is funded by taxpayers and must serve the public while upholding the rule of law.
Speaking on Sunday at the passing-out ceremony for newly recruited police officers, he said the credibility of the police depended on neutrality, professionalism, and public trust, particularly during election periods.
The remarks were made as he addressed the graduation parade of the 41st BCS probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi, where he attended as chief guest.
Referring to the role of law enforcement during elections, Jahangir Alam said maintaining peace could not be achieved through force alone and required the confidence of the people. He stated that the police force was ready to conduct the upcoming national parliamentary election in a free, fair, and neutral manner.
According to the adviser, around 100,000 policemen have received specialised training to handle election-related security. He urged officers to carry out their duties impartially and warned against accepting any form of unethical benefit or hospitality while on election assignments.
He said that any disorder at polling centres must be addressed firmly but strictly in line with the instructions of the Returning Officer, underlining the need for adherence to electoral law rather than discretionary action.
Jahangir Alam also acknowledged that police officers often face pressure and criticism in their professional lives, saying integrity and a sense of patriotism were essential to overcoming such challenges. He called for the development of a police force that was humane, courageous and free from corruption and political bias, capable of honouring the sacrifices of past generations while meeting the expectations of the future.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of awards among outstanding cadets in different categories. ASP Muhammad Sazzad Hossain was named best probationer, while Mehedi Arif received the award for best academic performance. Sajib Hossain was recognised for excellence in field activities; Mosleh Uddin Ahmed was recognised for horsemanship; and Salman Faruque was recognised for marksmanship.
The training programme for the new officers began in February last year and culminated in the passing-out parade, which was attended by senior officials including Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, Senior Secretary to the Home Ministry Nasimul Gani, Bangladesh Police Academy Principal Towfique Mahbub Chowdhury, Deputy Inspector General Dr Muhammad Shahjahan, and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dr Zillur Rahman.
In total, 96 assistant superintendents of police participated in the ceremony, drawn from multiple Bangladesh Civil Service batches. The chief guest reviewed the parade and took the salute, formally marking their completion of training and their entry into active service.
