Public representatives demand removal of Jessore SP, Addl SP

The public representatives at various levels of Jessore district have announced a strike demanding the removal of Jessore Superintendent of Police (SP) Proloy Kumar Joarder and Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl SP) Belal Hussain. 

They made the announcement at a press conference held at the Jessore Municipal Hall on Thursday. 

Initially, the press conference was supposed to be held at the district press club, but in the face of police obstruction, it was shifted to the new location. 

The organizers said they would form a human chain on Friday and a protest march on Saturday, followed by a protest rally the next day, pressing home their demand. 

They also threatened programs like hartal and blockade if their demand was not met. 

Jessore Municipality Panel Mayor Sheikh Moksimul Bari Opu read the written statement at the press conference. 

Vice Chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad (UP) Anwar Hossain Bipul, Chairman of Haitabpur UP Abu Siddique, Chairman of Churamankati UP Daud Hossain Dafadar and Chairman of Lebutla UP Alimuzzaman Milan, among several other local representatives, were present at the press conference.

Apart from this, district Awami League Vice President Mehedi Hasan Mintu, Organizing Secretary SM Afzal Hossain, and district Sramik League Acting President Javed Ali also attended the press conference, expressing solidarity with the program.

The statement read: “As public representatives, we work to deliver the promised civic services to the common people as promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We are working at the grassroots level to build a smart Bangladesh from digital Bangladesh. But Jessore SP Praloy Kumar Joarder and ASP Belal Hussain are defaming our public representatives by harassing them in various ways. Instead of keeping the law and order situation under control, they are defaming the public representatives.”

It was also informed in the press conference that the police vandalized the offices of Jessore Municipal Councillor Sheikh Zahid Hossain Milon, Rajibul Alam, Shahed Hossain Nayan, Sahidur Rahman Ripon, and several other public representatives. 

On Wednesday night, although there was no specific case, Councillor Milon was arrested and tortured, the statement continued. 

“Whenever something happened, the police attacked the offices and residences of these councillors. Through their inaction, criminals and terrorists are being saved. The law and order situation in Jessore has deteriorated over the years. Theft, drug trade, and extortion have also increased,” the statement further added.

“Incidents like murder are taking place all the time. We are always in favour of the arrest of those involved in these incidents. Most of these incidents have been captured through closed-circuit television (CCTV). But the accused are not being arrested; instead, others are being harassed. Before this, there were many incidents, including a clash at an extended meeting of the Jubo League and an attack on councillor Saheed Hossain Nayan, which were not recorded by the law enforcers. When the victim's family members went to the police station, they were thrown out of there, and it was told that the SP has ordered that the case cannot be taken,” the panel mayor read from the statement.

“In 2021, a bomb was thrown at the residence of Sadar UP Vice Chairman Anwar Hossain Bipul. In the CCTV footage, it can be seen that a man, with his face concealed with a piece of cloth, is throwing the bomb and running away. The CCTV footage was provided to the administration and the investigating officer. But the final report has been given in that case without arresting the accused,” he said.

The speakers at the press conference said that there is no chance of bringing the law and order situation under control in the district without taking immediate measures.

The above-mentioned police officers have taken on the role of oppressors, they alleged.

They pleaded with the prime minister for action against the SP and ASP for the safety of life and property of the people of Jessore. 

They said their strike will continue until the officers are removed from their positions. They also raised questions over the SP not joining his new workplace even after his transfer on November 6.