Police Won't Visit Applicant's House for the Clearance of Verification

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has instructed not to go to the applicant's house for verification and selection of police clearance. He said, "Police clearance should be given to the applicant as soon as possible after verifying from the crime data management system of the police whether there is any case against the applicant."

The DMP commissioner gave these instructions at a monthly crime review meeting at the DMP headquarters on Monday (April 18).

He said the matter was being monitored by the headquarters on how long it would take for the officers-in-charge (OCs) of the DMP's 50 police stations to issue police clearances. If any police member demands money in return for giving police clearance, departmental action will be taken against him.

According to the investigation, citizens of the country usually apply for clearance to go abroad and for urgent police clearance for public-private employment or business work. After submitting the application form, the name and address of the applicant is checked and selected by an officer of the rank of Sub-Inspector (SI) of the police station. But in most cases, the police officer concerned demanded a bribe from the applicant. Then the applicants were forced to pay a bribe.

A senior DMP official said the monthly crime review meeting also discussed whether there was a need for police verification for passports. However, during the issuance of passports, the names and addresses are checked and selected by the Special Branch of Police (SB). There are also allegations of police extortion or bribery from ordinary people in the case of passport verification.

He further said that manpower exporting companies have been accused of being harassed in the name of police verification in making passports. For these reasons, it has been discussed whether this verification can be stopped.

At a recent discussion, Shahidul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Manpower and Employment Bureau, said there was no need for police verification in the passport issue.

After his statement, many have raised questions again. After the statement, media personality Abdun Noor Tushar wrote in his verified Facebook ID, "There is a need for police verification to renew the passport. Because Rohingyas can also renew their Bangladeshi passports in exchange for money."

According to the relevant sources, the verification branch is considered as the most important branch after immigration in the special branch of the police. But there are allegations that the officials of this branch accept the most bribes in return for verification. It is difficult to find a person who has completed passport verification without bribe.

According to the source, the officers of the rank of sub-inspector lobbied to take the responsibility of passport verification in the special branch of the police. SI level officials give a little more importance to this branch as it is possible to earn a few thousand taka by doing multiple passport verification in a day.

In case of any complaint regarding the demand for money in return for any legal assistance including verification, action is taken after investigation. He claims that the current situation is much better than before. "The stigma attached to the police for taking money during the earlier verification is still to be borne," he said.