A total of 118 members of police and Rapid Action Battalion have received prestigious police medals for their outstanding performance in the last one year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the award among 118 police and Rab personnel on the first day of Police Week-2020.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit Towhidul Islam on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

Fourteen of them were awarded with Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-gallantry), 20 with President Police Medal (PPM-gallantry), 28 with Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM-Service) and 56 with President Police Medal (PPM-Service).

Before handing over the police medals, Sheikh Hasina observed a parade on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) to Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch Mashiur Rahman on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

Later, the prime minister inaugurated the six-day “Police Week-2020” at Rajarbagh Police Lines grounds. This year’s theme is “Mujib barsher angikar police hobe janatar”.

The number of proposed awardees is one-third of that of the previous time when a record 349 personnel were given the awards last year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) to Additional Deputy Commissioner of CTTC SM Nazmul Haque on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

Police officials said this time the number dropped significantly as the police high-ups strictly scrutinised while nominating police personnel for the awards as awarding a record number of policemen last time drew huge criticism.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over President Police Medal (BPM) to Jesshore District PBI Additional Superintendent of Police MKH Jahangir Hossain on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

The officials said the number was so high last time as all 80 police officials holding commanding posts in divisions, districts and metropolitan areas were awarded the prestigious medals considering their role played ahead of and during the December 30, 2018 election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM Service) to Additional Deputy Commissioner of CTTC Unit Mahfuza Liza on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

The ruling Awami League won a landslide victory in the polls bagging 257 of the 299 seats. The BPM and PPM gallantry Awards were introduced in 1976. The BPM and PPM service awards were initiated through another notification on March 8, 1999.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) to Inspector of CTTC Unit Md Mejbah Uddin Ahmed on the occasion of Police Week 2020 today, on January 5, 2020. Photo: Collected

Each BPM awardee will get a one-off allowance of Tk 1 lakh and Tk 1,500 monthly. For BPM (service), it will be one-off Tk 75,000 and Tk 1,000 monthly.

A PPM awardee will get one-off Tk 75,000 and Tk 1,500 monthly while a PPM (service) awardee will get one-off Tk 50,000 and Tk 1,000 monthly.

The awardees will continue to get the monthly allowance during the service period and even after retirement.