Govt weighs options on police uniform revision

Uncertainty over the uniform of Bangladesh Police continues, with the force proposing a revision of the recently introduced iron-coloured uniform less than a year after its rollout, raising concerns about policy planning and public expenditure.

Police Headquarters has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking changes to the iron-coloured uniform introduced in November last year.

The move has sparked questions about the use of public funds and the planning behind the earlier decision, as the uniform was introduced at significant cost.

Sources said the police administration recently presented five different colour samples to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed for consideration.

The proposed options include khaki shirt with navy blue trousers, khaki shirt with khaki trousers, navy blue shirt with navy blue trousers, the current iron-coloured uniform, and sky blue shirt with navy blue trousers.

The government is expected to select one of the options after careful review, with officials indicating that the decision will be taken cautiously to avoid further controversy.

The decision to change the police uniform was taken on 20 January 2025, ending a 21-year gap since the last revision in 2004.

The iron-coloured uniform began to be introduced at the field level from 25 November last year.

However, the new design received mixed reactions from the beginning, particularly among police personnel working at district and operational levels.

On 24 February, the Bangladesh Police Service Association formally requested reconsideration of the uniform, citing several concerns.

According to the association, factors such as the complexion of members, the country’s climate and humidity were not adequately considered during the selection process.

It also noted that the uniform closely resembled those of other disciplined forces, which could create confusion among the public in identifying police personnel.

In addition, some members felt uncomfortable as the design and colour became a subject of criticism and ridicule on social media.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed acknowledged the dissatisfaction within the force during an event in Sardar, Rajshahi, on 28 March, indicating that authorities were considering returning to a more traditional uniform.

Officials said a project worth around Tk 76 crore was undertaken to supply fabric for the new uniform, with two firms receiving contracts worth Tk 51 crore and Tk 25 crore respectively. Approximately 300,000 metres of fabric have already been supplied.

Bangladesh Police currently has around 200,000 personnel, each entitled to five sets of uniforms annually under government rules.

While the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and some specialised units have started using the new uniform, many district-level personnel continue to wear the old one.

A fresh change could lead to significant financial losses if previously supplied materials remain unused.
Economists have also expressed concern over the repeated changes.

Former World Bank lead economist Zahid Hossain said it was important to examine why another revision was being considered within such a short time.

He noted that improving police service quality and professional efficiency should be prioritised over costly uniform changes.

Supplier firms have reportedly suspended fabric production following the latest instructions and will resume work once a final decision is taken.

The situation has also affected other uniform changes, including the olive-coloured uniform for RAB and the golden wheat-coloured uniform for Ansar, both of which remain pending.

Authorities are now weighing the need to safeguard public funds against ensuring comfort and acceptance within the forces before making a final decision.