Dhaka, May 30 Home Minister on Wednesday sprung to the defence of the under-fire police force, claiming its behaviour is 'far better' now than before.
Shahara Khatun said reforms were underway to make the force 'pro-people'.
She made the comment only a day after police were accused of sexually assaulted a young woman and beating journalists at the Judges' Court premises in Dhaka.
"There are 141,000 police personnel in the country. I would not say all are good (well behaved). But we are working to make them pro-people," Sahara said.
She gestured to her right leg and said, "Police are now far better than before. My right leg is broken. Such incident also took place [in police action in the past]."
The government will take measures if there was any 'wrongdoings' in the police force, Shahara said.
"I was a political activist on the streets and have been pursuing politics since the Pakistani regime. We took action in the last three and a half years whenever there were wrongdoings in the police. Action will also be taken in future."
She dodged a 'yes' or 'no' answer to a question as to whether the media was the rival of police and government.
"People rush to police in incidents of burglary and robbery, but police don't torture them then."
She further claimed that the government took immediate measures in the incidents of police negligence and inaction.
Responding to a media query about the repression on the journalists by police on the court premises in old Dhaka, Shahara said the government took action soon after the incident. "Investigation is underway and measures will be taken [against those found responsible]."
Police on Tuesday withdrew two Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) over allegations of sexually harassing a woman at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court premises.
After a heated verbal exchange, the policemen dragged the young woman to the 'Police Club' on the court premises and sexually assaulted her, according to the lawyers who witnessed the incident.
As the Court Correspondents rushed there on information to have statement from police, they attacked three journalists and two lawyers.
Amid severe criticism, police withdrew ASIs ANuruzzaman Sarker and Amir Afzal Biplob in the evening. Police also formed a panel to investigate the incident.
Last week, police beat up three photojournalists of the daily Prothom Alo, snatched their cameras and cell phones and swore at them while they were taking photos of demonstrations by polytechnic students in Agargaon.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police after primary investigations closed Shahidul Islam, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Tejgaon zone, and suspended nine policemen.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku at a discussion on Tuesday advised journalists to keep a "safe distance" from police while gathering news.
"Journalist can avoid such unwanted incidents if they collect news or take photos by keeping a safe distance from police," he advised.
Home Minister Shahara Khatun on Wednesday claimed that the media twisted the remarks of her deputy.
Earlier, Shahara attended an inter-ministerial meeting on reduction of extortion in the transport sector.
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