Bhuiyan renews call for talks

"I urge the leaders of 14-party combine, let us resolve the political problems through discussion so that the next general election is held in a free and fair atmosphere," he said while speaking at the installation ceremony of newly elected office bearers of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at the National Press Club in the city.

Bhuiyan said after the next election the winner will form the government while the losers, accepting the people's verdict, will cooperate with the government being in the opposition.

About the police torture on journalists in Chittagong during Bangladesh-Australia cricket match, he said the incident was disgusting and those involved will be put on trial.

"Insha Allah, justice will be done…No one will be spared," he added.

Supporting crime reporters' demand for risk allowance, the LGRD minister said wages of journalists and government employees should be increased.

"The size of employees may be decreased, but the wages should increase," he added.

Commenting on newspaper reports that some party workers accused of criminal charges were given job in the police department, Bhuiyan said most students during their education life either belong to Chaatra League, Chhatra Dal or Chhatra Union and if a student can prove his competence he will get the job.

"But after getting the job if he is proved guilty actions would obviously be taken against him," he said, adding that during Awami League rule false charges were brought against BNP workers.

Describing law and order as indispensable for overall development, the minister said if the law and order situation is okay there will be economic developments and more investments will come and democracy will get institutional shape.

Laying emphasis on cooperation between police and crime reporters he said, "If police do not give the reporters minimum information about any incident they (reporters) will write novels."

Congratulating the newly appointed CRAB officials, he said investigative reports can unravel crimes and help catch the criminals, but the reports should be objective.

About the ransacking of cars a few days ago during a clash between police and opposition workers in the capital, Bhuiyan said those who did this are workers of political parties, but despite their attack on police, they showed patience.

He asked the inspector general of police (IGP) to extend professional cooperation to reporters.

Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru said media can be credited for the existence of minimum democracy in the country.

He said, "If we can work rising above party limitations, the country will be more prosperous."

Saying that police belong to no political party, rather they belong to people, Khasru said, "The country needs a professional police force…We could not have it yet owing to politicisation."

He said time has come to enact law ensuring right to information, as people have the right to know what the police and the government are doing.

About police torture on journalists in Chittagong, Khasru said it does not require 15 days to take actions against the responsible persons for the incident.

The state minister for home affairs and IGP could take instant actions against the guilty persons by visiting the scene and going through the video footages, he added.

"One must not be allowed to commit terrorist act while being in police force," he said, adding, "Today or tomorrow they (responsible) will be tried in the country."

Admitting that both police and journalists face risks while discharging their duties, IGP Abdul Quayyum stressed on more cooperation between police and crime reporters.

Praising journalists for their role to combat militancy after August 17 serial bombings, he said police have fairly controlled the problem.

Stressing the need for more budgetary allocation for the police department, Quayyum informed that very soon 1200 personnel, mostly officers, would be appointed in the force.

Harun-ur-Rashid Khan Monnu MP, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman and former and current CRAB leaders spoke on the occasion.