Retired cops vow to sacrifice lives to preserve country’s sovereignty

Retired police officers have raised their voices against Indian aggression and vowed to sacrifice their lives to protect the sovereignty of the country.

Under the banner of the Bangladesh Retired Police Officers Welfare Association, they said that India has directly taken a stance against the people of Bangladesh by giving shelter to ‘dictator’ Sheikh Hasina and keeping her against the country (Bangladesh).

They said this during a protest rally at the National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday. Before the assembly, they brought out a procession that began from Rajarbagh Police Lines and ended at the Press Club.

They also censured the Indian mass media for publishing and airing fake reports on the attack on the Hindu community.

The retired police officers alleged that Sheikh Hasina, staying from India, is instigating sabotage in Bangladesh and delivering offensive and seditious speech virtually.

The Indian government has failed to ensure security for the Bangladesh deputy and assistant high commissions in Kolkata and Tripura, they complained.

During the rally, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ashraful Huda reminded India that harbouring criminals is a crime.

The country (India) has committed the crime by giving shelter to Sheikh Hasina, he said.

Pointing to Sheikh Hasina, he said that she (Hasina) must not yield any success by plotting against the country from foreign soil.

She must face the music, said the ex-IGP.

Ashraful Huda said that police personnel were the first to resist the oppressors during the Liberation War in 1971.

“As their successors, the retired police officers are ready to sacrifice lives to protect the sovereignty and independence of the country,” he said.

In a protest statement read out during the rally, they presented a six-point demand.

The demands include stopping anti-Bangladesh propaganda and vigilance, ensuring security for the Bangladesh high commission, assistant high commission, and all establishments; stopping the conspiracy of Sheikh Hasina and extraditing her; stopping border killings; publishing Hasina-Modi secret agreements; re-evaluating transit and power-related treaties; and ensuring world-standard treatment in Bangladesh.

President of the association and retired DIG M Akbar Ali, retired DIG and heroic freedom fighter Md Anowar Hossain, and secretary general of the association and retired SP Lutfar Rahman spoke, among others, on the occasion.