Reza Mahmud :
Calls for police reform have grown louder as people from all walks of life demand changes, accusing the police force of failing to serve the citizens and instead becoming a symbol of corruption, brutality, and oppression.
The force is criticized for its involvement in extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and the violent suppression of anti-government protests.
Amid these concerns, the need for police reform has become a recurring demand. A proposal was drafted during the caretaker government in 2007, but it was shelved after the Awami League took power in December 2008.
The call for reform resurfaced following brutal police actions during the student-led anti-Hasina movement in July and August, which left thousands of protesters dead.
Following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her fleeing the country, the interim government has prioritized reforms, forming committees for six key state sectors, including the police.
Safar Raj Hossain has been appointed head of the police reform commission, and a specialized police unit has submitted reform proposals to the government.
The proposals recommend the creation of a National Safety Commission to oversee police activities and an independent Police Commission.
These bodies would be free from government influence, with members from both ruling and opposition parties.
Experts have also suggested a four-point reform agenda:
1. Merit-Based Recruitment and Promotion: A system should be established for recruiting, posting, and promoting officers based on merit, skills, and integrity.
The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) could develop software to automate police postings.
2. Independent Oversight: An independent commission should be established to handle complaints against the police and evaluate officers’ conduct and integrity.
3. Legal Protection from Political Influence: A law should be enacted to ensure that police officers can perform their duties without political interference, preventing them from being used to oppress opposition parties or engage in unlawful activities.
4. Political Commitment to Neutral Policing: Political parties must commit to not using state power to force the police into acts of oppression.
Police should be allowed to act in accordance with the law, without fear of political reprisal.
Experts agree that political commitment is essential for meaningful reform.
“The previous government used the police as a private force to suppress dissent over the last 17 years.
The police alone are not responsible for these acts,” said a former Home Minister, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder highlighted the colonial origins of the police force, stating that an independent commission is necessary to supervise the force.
Safar Raj Hossain, the head of the newly-formed police reform commission, told The New Nation, “We will begin our work on October 1. Once we convene, we will determine how to complete the task within three months.”
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Khoda Baksh Chowdhury said, “Before 2008, no one heard of forced disappearances involving the police.
Officers responsible for such actions should be interrogated, and laws should be established to prevent such abuses in the future.”
He also emphasized that police reform should be part of broader judicial reform since the judiciary oversees law enforcement.
Former IGP Nur Muhammad stressed the importance of creating a firm legal system to ensure police independence from unlawful government orders, stating that political commitment is crucial for the success of any reform efforts.
Commodore Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan (retd.), Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Professionals, suggested that civilian officials, social workers, and police should collaborate in investigating major incidents.
He also recommended managing police postings through automated systems to ensure transparency.
Leaders from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, including BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Mosharraf Hossain and Jamaat-e-Islami Publicity Secretary Motiur Rahman Akand, have expressed their parties’ commitment to ensuring the neutrality of the police in future operations.