A home ministry decision to examine the list of police medal nominees has created tension between the Police Headquarters and its supervising authority.

The Public Security Division of the ministry formed a six-member committee on May 2 to scrutinisethe list, and instructed the IGP office to send the names to the body 30 days before every Police Week, an annual event that normally takes place in February.

On condition of anonymity, several officials at the Police Headquarters said they considered the move as an aberration in the standard practice and an act of muscle flexing by superior authority.

They argued that the Police Regulation of Bengal empowers only the inspector general of police (IGP) to form such a committee and prepare a list of awardees.

The committee came into being hot on the heels of the Police Week 2019 when a record 349 police and Rab personnel were awarded the prestigious medals in four categories at a ceremony at Rajarbagh Police Lines in February. Last year, 182 police and Rab officials got the honour.

Many were critical of the selection, saying a number of competent officers have been left out while those close to the police administration were awarded.

The ministry did not say anything about the rationale behind the committee formation, but its May 2 letter reads, “The Police Headquarters must send the list of 90 law enforcers selected for the awards to the ministry along with the citations.”

The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the letter.

Contacted, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on September 2 said, “The Police Headquarters will make the list and the ministry-formed committee will just check whether anyone is omitted or there is any mistake.”

The Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) gallantry Awards were introduced in 1976. The BPM and PPM service awards were initiated through another notification on March 8, 1999.

According to two notifications issued on January 9, 1976, BPM and PPM shall be awarded to the members of the police force within the territories of Bangladesh who have performed acts of gallantries. And the awards shall be given only on recommendation to the president by the inspector general of police through the ministry of home.

The latest gazette notification issued by the home ministry says each BPM awardee will get a one-off allowance of Tk 1 lakh and Tk 1,500 monthly. For BPM (service), it will be one-off Tk 75,000 and Tk 1,000 monthly.

A PPM awardee will get one-off Tk 75,000 and Tk 1,500 monthly while a PPM (service) awardee will get one-off Tk 50,000 and Tk 1,000 monthly.

The awardees will continue to get the monthly allowance during the service period and even after retirement.

The police officials said the practice has so far been that the ministry without having any say about the list forwards it to the president for his approval. But now the ministry has formed a committee just to exert its authority over the force, they added.

Contacted on August 27, deputy secretary of the ministry, Farjana Jesmin, who sent the letter to the IGP, said there is no law that says the ministry cannot form a committee to scrutinise the list provided by the IGP.

“It [the ministry] will in no way interfere in police activities …. We will not be limiting the jurisdiction of the police committee that nominates the awardees,” she added.

Referring to the Police Act, she said the inspector general of police will carry out administrative job and the government will supervise the police force.

Another official at the Public Security Division of the ministry, preferring anonymity, said, “They [police] will give the award, but there should be a body to scrutinise who are getting the awards and for which roles. If not, then what is use of the ministry?

“Ninety people are supposed to get the awards. The honourable president can increase the number to a certain level. But you know how many were awarded last time.”

He further said they often face questions from the offices of the president and the prime minister when the ministry forwards the police proposal for such a big number of awardees. “It hurts us,” he added.

As per the ministry order, additional secretary (police and NTMC) of the ministry will be the convener while the joint secretary (Police -1) of Public Security Division will be the member secretary.

The members are a joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, a joint secretary of Finance Division, joint secretary (administration) of Public Security Division and a deputy inspector general from the Police Headquarters.