Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate senior police officers to demoralise the force ahead of the 11th national election.
Her remarks came on Thursday (Dec 20) while addressing a group of former police officers at the Ganabhaban, where the 88 retired officers expressed solidarity with the Awami League-led government, reports BSS.
In a clear reference to the BNP and its allies, Hasina said, “They have two plans, chalked by a criminal in London. One to keep a section of officers in their payroll and the other is assassinating senior officers to demoralise the force.”
The Awami League president, however, said she was confident that the “evil force which unleashed a reign of terror in 2014 and 2015” will not be successful this time.
“We would not have been able to contain terrorism and militancy without efficient services of the police force and intelligence agencies,” she added.
A total of 88 police officers from IGP (Inspector General of Police) rank to ASP (Additional Superintendent of Police) joined the event at the PM’s official residence, the Ganabhaban.
Of the retired police officers, 15 are ex-IGPs, one officer of Police Services of Pakistan (PSP), 19 additional IGPs, 24 DIGs, 3 additional DIGs, 11 AIGs and SPs and 15 additional SPs.
Former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque conducted the function while several ex-IGPs spoke on the occasion expressing their solidarity with AL in the election.
The 15 former IGPs are AT Ahammedul Haque Chowdhury, Kutubur Rahman, Md Shamsher Alam, AKM Enayet Ullah Dewan, Md Abdur Rouf, Md Awlad Hossain Mia, Kazi Bazlur Rahman, Abul Kashem Hawlader, Md Abdul Hannan, Md Ruhul Amin, M Sanaul Haque, Md Nurul Anwar and AKM Shahidul Haq, Md Mominullah Patwari (ex-police officer and former secretary) and Mohammad Abdul Hannan Khan (coordinator with status of IGP).
The 19 former additional IGPs include Md Sarwar Hossain, Mohammad Abdus Sattar, Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Md Nurul Alam, Md Ali Imam Chowdhury, Md Fazlul Haque, Md Abdur Rahim, Khandakar Mozammel Haq, Golam Mostafa, Md Lutfor Rahman Mia, Md Matiur Rahman, Md Abdul Mannan, Md Abdul Mabud, Amulya Bhushan Barua, Md Nazmul Haque, Fatema Begum, Binoy Krinshna Bala, Nowsher Ali and Md Abu Hanif.
The 24 retired Deputy Inspectors General include Dewan Habibullah, Md Shafiq Ullah, Khandakar Saheb Ali, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Md Mokhlesur Rahman, Shah Alam Sikder, PR Barua, Md Tofazzal Hossain, Md Waliur Rahman, Nibaran Kumar Chanda, Mostafa Zamal Uddin al Azad, Kazi Anwar Hossain, Md. Altaf Hossain Mollah, Chowdhury Ahsanul Kabir, Md Sazzad Hossain, Mostaq Hossain Khan, Shafiqur Rahman, Moqbul Hossain Bhuiyan, Md Obaidullah, Dr Muhammad Abdur Rahim, SM Mahfuzul Haq Nuruzzamn and Moniruzzaman.