Dhaka: About 150,000 police personnel are being trained for election-related duties ahead of the national parliamentary elections, as announced by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam. This marks the first instance of such extensive training for the police force in preparation for the elections, with the program set to conclude by the end of this month.
According to United News of Bangladesh, IGP Baharul Alam shared these details during a meeting with a UNESCO delegation at the Police Headquarters. The delegation consisted of UNESCO Bangladesh Office Country Director Dr. Susan Vize and Team Leader of the Rule of Law and Freedom of Expression Section at UNESCO Headquarters, Mehdi Benchelah. The meeting facilitated discussions on enhancing relations between police and journalists, promoting the rule of law, ensuring freedom of expression, and addressing misinformation and disinformation.
The UNESCO representatives emphasized their commitment to promoting freedom of expression, journalist safety, and information access worldwide. They proposed organizing fact-checking training for journalists and other stakeholders to build trust and improve professionalism between the police and media sectors. The delegation highlighted the role of such training in preventing the spread of misinformation and supporting public interest and crisis management.
IGP Baharul Alam, while welcoming the delegation, provided an overview of the current law and order situation in the country and the police’s preparations for the national elections. He also discussed measures being implemented to maintain peace and order during the election period. The meeting was attended by Additional Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) Md Golam Rasul and other police officials.