DHAKA, Feb 26, 2024 (BSS) - The annual general meeting (AGM) of Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) will be held tomorrow.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a message on the eve of the day greeting all members of the association and welcoming the initiative of publication of souvenir "Uddipan".

She recalled with deep respect the policemen who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Great War of Liberation and other times, including the policemen who embraced martyrdom in the first armed resistance against the Pakistani occupational forces on March 25, 1971 at Rajarbagh Police Lines.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave special importance to the reconstruction and development of the Bangladesh Police Force in reconstruction of the war-torn Bangladesh after independence, she said. 

The premier said whenever the Awami League formed government, it followed the footsteps of the father of the nation and developed Bangladesh Police. 

During the 1996-2001 period, the premier said, her government increased the budgetary allocation for police force, introduced risk allowance, doubled up the amount of ration and provided necessary vehicles for the force, she said. 

"In 1998, we were the first to appoint a woman officer to the post of Superintendent of Police, set up the Police Welfare Trust with Taka five crore seed money, establish the Police Staff College, increase the manpower of police and develop the infrastructure and we took different development oriented multifaceted steps for the force," said Sheikh Hasina.

In the last 15 years, she said, the government implemented extensive developmental activities, including creation of new posts, providing large number of promotions at various levels, promotion and increasing the number of posts in Grade-I and Grade-II. 

The premier said Bangladesh Police performed important duties with great courage and efficiency in the recently held national elections as well as in implementing the 'Zero Tolerance' policy announced by the government to control terrorism and violent extremism, maintaining law and order and stability in the country. 

Police have also brightened the image of the country in the international arena by performing their duties maintaining professionalism in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, she said.
 
The police force is equipping itself to face the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution through the use of advanced IT and logistics tools, including modern training, apps, artificial intelligence, she said.

She hoped Bangladesh Police Service Association will implement more programmes to promote friendship and friendly relations among its members, undertake welfare and philanthropic activities and increase efficiency and professionalism. 

She urged the police members to perform their duties with honesty, devotion, efficiency, impartiality, professionalism, sacrifice, valor and patriotism.

She wished further prosperity of the Bangladesh Police Service Association.