Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has said that the police no longer believe in suppressing crime through fear, crossfire or enforced disappearance, as was seen in previous authoritarian periods.

Speaking at a press briefing held at Khulna Police Lines on Saturday (15 November), he acknowledged the mistakes of past authoritarian periods, saying it will take time to restore public trust.

The IGP said that people are eagerly waiting for the upcoming national election, and attempts to sabotage it will not succeed. “Even if a few polling centres are shut down, the election will be held in the remaining thousands. People want to vote--this is our biggest strength,” he added.

He further said that the police are working with patience and restraint, avoiding the excessive force once associated with the force. “A strong and legitimate authority does not need to torture, shoot, or abduct people. Those are the signs of a weak government. We are now morally stronger,” he said.

Baharul emphasised that the police will follow the law strictly. “We will not use fear of crossfire to fight terrorism. Anyone arrested will be produced before court within 24 hours. Justice will take its course.”

He assured journalists of full access on election day, saying the era of obstructing reporters is over. “This time, we want you to come and observe freely. We have nothing to hide.”

The IGP said that police units across the country are undergoing self-directed training to ensure the upcoming election is free, fair and peaceful--breaking away from the controversy surrounding the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections.

On the question of controversial officers, he said no formal list has been prepared, but SPs and DIGs have been identifying officers who may not be suitable for election duties.

Regarding cases against police, the IGP said progress has improved in recent months, with 19 murder cases and around 36 other cases under investigation. At least 21 officers have already been sent to the International Crimes Tribunal.

He admitted weaknesses in combating fake news and AI-generated misinformation, adding that cooperation from BTRC and Meta remains inconsistent.

On “ghost cases,” the IGP said that innocent individuals are being cleared whenever identified, and urged anyone still wrongly accused to approach the police for review.