Bangladesh is preparing a new law to combat extortion, allowing police to take legal action against suspected extortionists without requiring complaints from victims, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir said on Saturday.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after addressing a community policing meeting at Khulna Police Lines. The gathering focused on combating drugs, terrorism, extortion, juvenile gangs and extremism in Khulna and surrounding areas.
The IGP said many people were reluctant to file complaints or testify against influential extortionists for fear of retaliation. The proposed law aims to remove these barriers and enable police to initiate legal proceedings on their own.
He said that once the law is passed, police would be able to take action against extortionists without waiting for complaints from victims.
Fakir also discussed the challenges facing law enforcement, saying police were sometimes labelled authoritarian when they used force to maintain law and order, while being viewed as weak when they refrained from doing so.
He said a gap had developed between police and the public over the past 17 years, while drug abuse had become entrenched in society. Police are working to address these problems, he added.
A legal framework is also being developed with the approval of the ministries of home affairs and finance to make law enforcement more effective. Under the proposed framework, community policing would operate as a formal branch of the police.
The IGP acknowledged allegations that some community policing members had harassed innocent people, intimidated them and extorted money. He said placing their activities under a legal framework would help prevent such abuses.
He added that joint operations were underway across the country to tackle juvenile gangs, extortion and drugs. The government is also working on legislation that would empower police to initiate cases over alleged extortion without a victim’s complaint.
The meeting was chaired by Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Sazzadur Rahman. Khulna Range Deputy Inspector General Md Rezaul Karim and Police Training Centre, Khulna Commandant (DIG) AKM Mosharraf Hossain Miaji attended as special guests. Local dignitaries and civil society representatives were also present.