Photo: Collected
The policing job, which is primed as a source of power and prestige, sometimes turns traumatic for some due to the duress of workload, personal and financial affairs, etc., prompting a few of them to take their lives.
The incidents of taking lives in Bangladesh Police are related to financial stress and workload-related crises, which the police high-up denied.
But an expert expressed concern over the deaths of around seven police personnel in the last 17 months, starting in January 2022.
He thinks about the tremendous workload of the cops, particularly the policepersons of the lower tier involved in quelling riots or violence and unveiling crimes.
Dr. Tauhidul Haque of Dhaka University told The Daily Messenger, "The higher authorities must look into ensuring timely leave, an enjoyable working environment, proper professional behavior, as well as quality food and residence facilities for the policemen. Besides, a monitoring mechanism should be in place to oversee the well-being of the cops."
The DU teacher said, "They don’t get quality food or residence, which is a must, and often have to experience misbehaviour from their high-ups. Their unspecified workloads take a toll on the mental health of the policepersons."
On the other hand, several constables involved in POM duty and investigators of different homicidal and offensive cases told The Daily Messenger that many policemen are resorting to suicide for various reasons, including the financial crisis, extremely exhausting labour, denial of leave approval, and salary deduction on different excuses.
Many members of the Bangladesh Police have committed suicide in recent times, including the recent incident of a young constable from the Public Order Management Division in Dhaka. Constable Ashraf Uz Zaman Rony (23) committed suicide with his pistol on May 25, shortly after he was deployed at a check post.
Some other cases of cop suicide include Khulna Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Laboni and her former orderly, Constable Mahmudul Hasan, who reportedly committed suicide hours apart in Magura in July 2022.
On February 8, 2023, a sub-inspector named Md Humayunj Kabir hanged himself at his residence in Bhaluka, Mymensingh.
On October 30, a police constable from a police line in the capital took her life by drinking poison in Manikganj. The deceased was identified as Mahmuda Akter Ritu (25).
Abdur Rauf (25) of Khagrachhari district police took his life at his Nilphamari village home on November 27, 2022, while SI of Pabna’s Ataikula Police Station Hasan Ali (28) committed suicide on March 21.
Female Constable Rahima Khatun, who was a member of 8th APBN, Cox’s Bazar, took her life in her village home in Bogura.
Several POM constables and SIs talked to The Daily Messenger and said that the constable post itself requires inhuman labour as they have to perform duty under the open sky for a long period of time without food and rest.
On the condition of anonymity, one constable said, "The condition of the workplace is so bad that many of us often have to take early retirement."
When the reporter pointed out the age limit (between 20 to 25) of the policemen who committed suicide, they said that these individuals in their twenties fail to manage such socio-financial and official pressure.
Besides, "We often do not get any leave sanctioned. They (high officials) make us stand in the sun as well as rain. They just don’t care about the weather, whether we have taken food or not, or whether we're sick or not. Sometimes, they even resort to slapping or verbally abusing us."
Replying to a question regarding the matter, Police Headquarters AIG (Media and PR) Md. Manzur Rahman said that the policemen who committed suicide resorted to such an unwanted act out of what sort of frustration is still unknown.
"However, we always conduct monthly monitoring and counseling meetings to prevent this kind of behavior. It’s not right that excessive workload is being bestowed upon them," he said.
A POM (North) high official told The Daily Messenger, "Yes, it is scary for us. A small number of our colleagues are unhappy with their designation, postings, and duties."
TDM/SD
