Dhaka, Aug. 2 -- Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the police must not serve as an instrument of any political party or group but should instead become a true friend of people and a symbol of public security.

The government's priority is to ensure public safety and build a modern, professional and people-oriented police force free from political influence, he said while addressing the graduation parade of the first phase of the 27th BCS (Police) batch at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah, Rajshahi.

He said the government has taken various steps to restore the morale of the police force which was undermined by excessive politicisation during the previous "fascist government".

The minister said a strict system of reward...