Mohammad Sher Ali, a kindhearted policeman who burst into tears while rescuing a minor girl from an accident and made others cry by his noble gesture, has been selected for the President Police Medal (PPM) 2016.

A constable of Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Sher Ali was not related to five-year-old Umme Habiba, who was trapped and wounded under a bus that flipped over on Cox's Bazar-Chittagong Highway at Panirchhara in Ramu upazila on December 11.

The sight of the little girl soaked in blood made him break down in tears as he carried her away to hospital.

The picture of sobbing Sher Ali running with the girl sparked an outpouring of admiration and love for him on the social media.

In recognition of his noble deed, he is going to be awarded by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at this year's Police Week scheduled to start on January 23.

Poritosh Ghosh, deputy commissioner of CMP DB, said Sher Ali had brightened the image of the entire police department.

The CMP in a letter to the police headquarters recommended that the PPM medal be awarded to him so that other members of the force were encouraged to come forward to help people in such noble manners, he added.

When the accident took place, Sher was at his village home in Ramu on three-day leave but did not hesitate to join the rescue operation. The accident left at least four people dead and many others injured.

The girl is now quite well after taking treatment at Ramu Health Complex and Chittagong Medial College Hospital.

Apart from Sher Ali, 40 other police and Rab officials have been selected for the PPM awards.

Besides, 41 police and Rab officials have been selected for PPM Sheba (Service) Award, 26 for Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and 24 for BPM Sheba (Service) Award in recognition of their courageous deeds, outstanding performances in investigation and curbing criminal offences and their honesty and discipline.

Four police officials who sacrificed their lives in last year's July 1 Gulshan café attack and July 7 attack in Sholakia eid congregation have been posthumously selected for the BPM Award.

They are Rabiul Karim, former senior assistant commissioner of DB (North Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Salahuddin Khan, former officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, and constables Jahirul Islam and Ansarul Haque of Kishoreganj district police.

Most of the police and Rab officials who have dealt with terrorist and militant activities have been selected for the awards this year.

Sher Ali expressed his happiness and gratitude for being selected for the PPM Award. He told The Daily Star that everyone should come forward to help the people in distress.

The society would be a better place to live in if people became humane, he added.