Shahara wants more cops in suburbs

Dhaka, July 10 (bdnews24.com) ?The home minister has ordered an increase in the number of policemen at the district level.

Her order came following a remark from the inspector general that law enforcers fall victims to picketers in suburban areas.

Shahara Khatun visited Square Hospital to see additional superintendent of police Saidur Rahman who was injured in a clash with hartal supporters at Fatullah on Sunday.

Twelve parties, mostly Islamist, enforced a 30-hour countrywide lockdown, to push for restoration of 'Absolute Faith and Trust in Allah' in and dropping of secularism from the constitution.

Inspector general Hasan Mahmud Khandaker told Shahara after the visit that picketers were concentrating on suburban areas and policemen were getting outnumbered and beaten up.

Shahara instructed him to increase the number of policemen in those areas.

"We also observed hartal. We used to get beaten up by the police. But now the picketers attack the police with large canes," she said.

She also praised the police for their patience during the Fatullah clash.

Asked about civilians seen aiding the police in battling the picketers, she said, "People do not support hartal. So they resisted it."

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