ID :
16308
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:46
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http://m.oananews.org//node/16308
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Bangladesh forms police unit to monitor political parties
Dhaka, Aug 18 (PTI) Emergency-ruled Bangladesh has constituted a new police intelligence unit to moniter political activities, drawing flak from major parties who termed the move as an attempt to make the country a "police state." Officials said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (D.M.P.) recently launched the new wing to be called Political Intelligence Office (P.I.O.) to gather information in advance about the activities of different political parties and theirfront organisations.
Both the political parties the Awami League (A.L.) and Bangladesh National Party (B.N.P.) has severely criticised the constitution of intelligence unit by the Bangladesh's militarybacked regime to monitor political activities.
"The government is trying to establish a police state before the national elections," A.L. presidium member Motia Chowdhury said adding "It is not the job of the police to keep track of the activities of political parties." B.N.P. chairperson's adviser retired brigadier general A.S.M. Hannan Shah called the initiative "illogical" and said "the police department should open a new wing to improve the deteriorating law and order instead of snooping on politicalparties. No civilised society has such practices," he said.
"Covert surveillance by the police on political parties and political activities is against democratic principles and practices," said left leaning Workers' Party President Rahsed Khan Menon adding "I see no reason to launch it." D.M.P. Commissioner, Naim Ahmed, clarifying on the issue said the unit was constituted under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rules, 2006, which was enacted during the rule of past Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B.N.P.)-led four party coalition government of now detained former primeminister Khaleda Zia.
"It is not aimed at harassing anybody but to collect information about any incident quickly so that the police can take preventive measures before it escalates into somethingbigger which may become difficult to handle," he said.
Police sources said P.I.O. was tasked to collect details of leaders and activists of different political parties and their front organisations and make a database with the collected data and prepare analytical reports on importantpolitical matters.
They said unit was set up with a specialised team of officials from the Detective Branch (D.B.) of Police to beheaded by a deputy commissioner of D.M.P.
Both the political parties the Awami League (A.L.) and Bangladesh National Party (B.N.P.) has severely criticised the constitution of intelligence unit by the Bangladesh's militarybacked regime to monitor political activities.
"The government is trying to establish a police state before the national elections," A.L. presidium member Motia Chowdhury said adding "It is not the job of the police to keep track of the activities of political parties." B.N.P. chairperson's adviser retired brigadier general A.S.M. Hannan Shah called the initiative "illogical" and said "the police department should open a new wing to improve the deteriorating law and order instead of snooping on politicalparties. No civilised society has such practices," he said.
"Covert surveillance by the police on political parties and political activities is against democratic principles and practices," said left leaning Workers' Party President Rahsed Khan Menon adding "I see no reason to launch it." D.M.P. Commissioner, Naim Ahmed, clarifying on the issue said the unit was constituted under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rules, 2006, which was enacted during the rule of past Bangladesh Nationalist Party (B.N.P.)-led four party coalition government of now detained former primeminister Khaleda Zia.
"It is not aimed at harassing anybody but to collect information about any incident quickly so that the police can take preventive measures before it escalates into somethingbigger which may become difficult to handle," he said.
Police sources said P.I.O. was tasked to collect details of leaders and activists of different political parties and their front organisations and make a database with the collected data and prepare analytical reports on importantpolitical matters.
They said unit was set up with a specialised team of officials from the Detective Branch (D.B.) of Police to beheaded by a deputy commissioner of D.M.P.
