Public survey advocates legal action against police for falsely implicating innocents

Around 74.5 per cent of respondents in a public survey want legal action against the police for falsely implicating innocents in charge sheets.

The suggestion came from a public survey titled ‘Kemon Police Chai’ (What Kind of Police We Want), conducted by the PRC in response to recent criticism in Bangladesh and around the world regarding the violent role of some police personnel in suppressing the anti-discrimination student movement, BSS reports.

The participants also provided four suggestions to stop such a culture, including examining the legal aspects of filing any case against a large section of specific people for organised crimes by the officer-in-charge of the respective police station.

They also suggested that the investigation officer (IO) submit a case diary (CD) before the court when implicating individuals who were not previously accused in the case.

The procedure for taking legal action against investigation officers could be introduced if it is proven that the charge sheet was filed against deceased individuals or innocent people, they suggested.

They also recommended lodging complaints against the respective metropolitan police commissioners or police supers if money is taken illegally by threatening to implicate people in criminal cases.

Ninety-five per cent of respondents suggested amending the existing procedure for filing cases to stop the culture of repressing political opponents by lodging false cases, which surged during the past Awami League regime.

The culture of suppressing political opponents by filing false and fabricated cases was introduced by the immediate past authoritarian regime.

In response to a question, "Do you want the amendment to the respective section of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to end the misuse of the law in filing cases?" 95 per cent of people responded "yes."

Taking part in the public survey, 81.9 per cent of people opined that effective measures should be taken to stop the exchange of money by threatening people to implicate them in false cases.

The PRC has recommended the formation of a permanent investigation commission to deal with allegations of human rights (HR) violations by the police force, following a suggestion by 80 per cent of respondents.

In response to a question on how allegations of human rights violations and the misuse of power by police should be investigated, 60 per cent of the 24,442 people taking part in the survey recommended forming a complete investigation commission to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent of them suggested the formation of a permanent investigation commission led by a retired justice of the High Court Division, and 20 per cent wanted the investigation to be handled by the National Human Rights Commission through an amendment to the relevant law of 2009.

The country needs a law-abiding, corruption-free, and politically independent police force to maintain law and order equally for all citizens, the survey said.

"Some 89.5 per cent of people opined that police force should not be used for political purposes, and 77.9 per cent want the police to refrain from corruption through the misuse of power," it added.

Additionally, 74.9 per cent of respondents supported holding the police accountable for human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the filing of false cases.