Police have written to the home ministry to cancel Inspector General Benazir Ahmed’s planned visit to Germany following a criticism on social media over the tour.
Assistant Inspector General Md Quamruzzman, a spokesman for the Police Headquarters, said on Friday they sent a letter on Sunday, but have not heard back yet, reports bdnews24.com.
“Naturally his [Benazir’s] Germany trip will be cancelled if the GO [government order] is cancelled. And if the government takes a new decision, that will be considered later,” he said.
According to a notice issued by the home ministry on February 7, Benazir and two other officials are scheduled to visit Germany for nine days by February 28.
The notice had said the company will pay for the entire trip for factory acceptance test as part of the procurement of the double bed sheets and pillowcases. The government will not foot the bill of the tour.
Amid social media backlash, he Police Headquarters recently issued a statement, saying the news spread on social media that the IGP will visit Germany to buy bed sheets was “untrue and misleading”.
It claimed police were not buying bed sheets from Germany, which does not produce or export such products.
The language and information used in the government order created confusion and a quarter used it for a disinformation campaign against police, the statement said.
It also said rules have been properly followed to buy the bed sheets and pillowcases in line with the Public Procurement Act.
“Government purchases cannot be done like shopping by individuals at markets or during foreign tours.”