‘Conspirators’ Exist in Police and Media, IGP Says

Bangladesh’s police chief warned that “conspirators” operate both inside the police force and among journalists, calling on the two groups to stand together against them.

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There are conspirators among you [journalists] and among us [police] as well. They are all over Bangladesh. Let us all stand united against conspirators.

Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir made the remarks while speaking to journalists after attending a cleanliness campaign at Rajarbagh Police Lines School and College in Dhaka. “There are conspirators among you [journalists] and among us [police] as well. They are all over Bangladesh. Let us all stand united against conspirators,” he said.

Hossain also pushed back against criticism of the entire police force over misconduct by a small number of officers. He said he had previously stated that less than 1 percent of the force was bad, and later analysis showed that 0.70 percent of members were involved in crime. “Why should my entire police force take the blame for that small number of corrupt members?” he asked.

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I once said not even one percent of our force is bad. The media then began reporting that I was trying to justify irregularities in the police. I later proved through analysis that only 0.70 percent among us are involved in crime. Not even one percent. Why should my entire police force take the blame for that small number of corrupt members?

The police chief urged journalists to report crimes and irregularities, but not to spread what he called false accusations and rumours. “If we commit any crime, write about it. But do not spread false accusations and break the morale [of police],” he said.

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If we commit any crime, write about it. But do not spread false accusations and break the morale [of police].

At another event connected to the cleanliness campaign, Hossain described difficulties in dealing with repeat offenders involved in mugging and drug crimes. He said many had been brought under the law several times but were released because of legal loopholes. He added that Bangladesh had only one police member for every 1,000 people, making public cooperation necessary for law enforcement.

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We are conducting drives against muggers and drugs. Every drug dealer and mugger has been brought under the law multiple times. But due to loopholes in the law, we have not been able to keep them detained.