Staff Reporter :
The Police Reform Commission (PRC) has recommended reforms to the current provision allowing the arrest of individuals under section 54 of the CrPC of 1889 without a warrant.
This recommendation follows the findings of a survey in which 82.5 per cent of 24,442 respondents considered section 54 to be abusive.
The PRC conducted the survey titled “Kemon Police Chai” (What Kind of Police We Want) as part of the government’s initiative to make the police more public-friendly.
Of the 21,637 respondents, 46.2 per cent advocated for reform and modernisation of section 54, while 39.7 per cent suggested it should be amended in line with the High Court’s recommendations, aiming to prevent the abuse of power and uphold democratic values.
Furthermore, 14.1 per cent of respondents emphasised the importance of implementing the High Court’s directives to prevent mistreatment under this section.
The survey was conducted amid growing criticism, both domestically and internationally, of the aggressive use of power by some police officers during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. In response, the interim government established the Police Reform Commission to address the issue.
In addition to the reforms to section 54, the survey highlighted other public concerns, with 60 per cent of respondents suggesting the formation of a commission to investigate allegations of human rights violations and police abuse of power. Meanwhile, 20 per cent supported the creation of a permanent commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, to investigate such abuses.
The survey also found that 89.5 per cent of people believed that using police force for political purposes must cease, and 77.9 per cent wanted the police to avoid corruption. Additionally, 75 per cent of respondents called for police accountability regarding human rights violations, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
The survey’s findings highlight the public demand for a law-abiding, corruption-free, and politically independent police force to maintain law and order in the country. The full survey report is available on the Police Reform Commission’s website: www.prc.mhapsd.gov.bd.
