Police don’t have magic spells to control law and order situation: IGP

Bangladesh Police cannot magically control the country's law and order situation given the situation the force is trying to make a comeback from, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Saturday (28 December).

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after the annual general meeting of the Retired Police Officers' Welfare Association at the capital's Rajarbagh Police Lines.

"Everyone knows from where police are trying to make a comeback. We do not have any magic spells to prevent theft, mugging, and murders across the country. We want the cooperation of the students. We need to resist collectively," the IGP said.

Replying to another question, he said police have addressed and solved all the threats made to the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Speaking at the same event, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali said the huge loss of lives during the mass uprising led by students would not have happened if police had taken the right decision even 72 hours before 5 August.

"Lives of many police members could have been saved too," he added.

The DMP chief expressed embarrassment regarding the police's actions during the July-August uprising and said the force would have to earn back its lost image through service.