The Bangladesh Police Headquarters has brought down the number of awardees for the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medals (PPM) given out during Police Week to 120 after much criticism regarding the increasing number of winners over the last two years.

Members of Bangladesh Police are awarded medals in four categories for their service and bravery every year.

However, in 2019, 349 medals were given out which sparked a controversy that the awards were given for the “special role” the police played during the national polls.

According to sources at the headquarters, the list of 120 policemen has been sent to the Home Ministry and the medals will be given out during the Police Week from Jan 5 to Jan 10.

However, a police headquarters employee wishing to remain anonymous said that nothing can be said until the gazette is published.

According to sources, with a few exceptions, those who received the awards last year have been left out of the list this year and the gazette will be published this year.

Sources said that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police are likely to receive the maximum number of awards this year, followed by Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit.