Bangladesh News

The newly formed Political Intelligence Office (PIO), a specialised unit of the detective branch (DB) under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, will also be tasked with forecasting probable disruptions of law and order in the capital besides gathering intelligence on political parties and their front organisations.

However, the PIO will have only 20 personnel — an assistant commissioner (AC), two inspectors, eight sub-inspectors (SI), two assistant SIs, three constables and four computer operators — to perform the gargantuan task.

As yet, an AC and two Sis have been assigned with their new responsibilities, pending designated offices and other necessary logistics, said sources at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)

Top police officials said the primary purpose of the PIO is to timely update the DMP about activities or programmes taken up by political parties, students or factory workers so the DMP can swiftly act before the situation gets out of hand.

Since the city SB does not work directly under the DMP commissioner, it usually takes six to seven hours for an intelligence report prepared by the city SB to reach the DMP commissioner’s office, a top police official seeking anonymity said explaining the grounds behind forming of the PIO.

“The DMP, on several occasions, haven’t been able to take quick action due to the outdated information,” he said, adding that once the operations of the PIO gets into full swing, the DMP top officials will be able to get updated reports whenever needed.

According to the modalities of its work, the PIO will develop a detailed information database on political parties, their front organisations and their leaders and activists.

Asked whether such a small unit will be able to effectively carry out the massive task, the official said the PIO would collect the information mainly from the city SB.

Whenever a certain matter would require urgent attention, the PIO would gather its own intelligence, he said adding that the PIO will also prepare analytical reports on important political matters.

On October 19, 2006, home ministry of the then government issued a gazette notification of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Detective Branch) Rules 2006 under section 109 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976. Section 36 of the rules had the provision to form the Political Intelligence Office (PIO).

BRIEFING OF THE DMP COMMISSIONER
DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed yesterday said the PIO has been launched not only to watch over political activities but also to collect information about all sorts of activities that might disrupt law and order.

At a press briefing held at his office, the DMP commissioner said the PIO has been formed under the DMP Rules Ordinance 2006.

The PIO does not intend to or have the capacity to harass politicians.

It has been the city SB’s task to update the DMP commissioner about law and order situation in the capital and the PIO will work alongside the city SB and other units of the police department with the same goal before them, explained the DMP chief.

AL REACTION
Awami League (AL) acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday said the caretaker government has introduced the Political Intelligence Office (PIO) to depoliticise the country.

“We strongly oppose it,” Zillur told reporters at his Gulshan residence in the capital after a views-exchange meeting with Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders.

When political parties are demanding a congenial atmosphere to function independently, the government is trying to put restriction on political activities through introduction of new rules and regulations, the AL leader said.

Zillur said it would be tough for the government to hold the national election by December as per the announced electoral roadmap.

“But they [government] have no option but to stick to the roadmap,” he said replying to a query whether is it possible to hold the national election in four months’ time.

“We have no alternative but to wait as the government has been repeatedly assuring us of holding the election as per the roadmap,” said Zillur adding that it is the constitutional obligation of the government to hold the national election first.