Tuesday | 14 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Tuesday | 14 January 2025 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Ex-BB deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury arrested      ● Next hearing on Jamaat's appeal for registration Jan 21      ● Dhaka at high risk of major tremor: Experts      ● Picchi Helal, Imon to be brought under justice: DB chief       ● ACC initiates probe against Enayet Ullah      ● Zia Orphanage graft case appeal hearing ends, verdict Wednesday      ● Cumilla University deputy registrar handed over to police by students      

Our police must regain public trust 

Published : Sunday, 5 January, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1011
Arnab Ashraf
Bangladesh Police finds itself at a crossroads at the present time. In spite of its crucial role in maintaining law and order, the force has become an agency tainted by political connections, corruption, and, most significantly, a lack of public trust. 

Because of the colonial-era Police Act of 1861, the Bangladesh Police has largely been shaped by a framework designed to control, not serve, the people.

Over the decades, various reform efforts have been made. But each has been thwarted by deeply ingrained structural flaws, political interference, and a persistent failure to meet the needs of the public. The most recent trigger for the escalating crisis of public trust was the violent police crackdown during the July-August 2024 uprising. That event, compounded by long-standing public discontent, underscores the urgency of reform: an overhaul that must go beyond imagination and address the systemic issues that have eroded trust in the police.

The Police Reform Commission (PRC), established to tackle these deep-rooted problems, has exposed numerous deficiencies within the police force and put forward several key recommendations. Of these, the focus on improving core services, such as the online General Diary (GD) system, women's helpline, and victim support programme, are critical. These services, essential for a modern, responsive police force, have long underperformed. Yet, with the backing of the PRC's findings, reform initiatives can offer a real opportunity to rebuild the fractured relationship between the police and the public. 

But, without genuine political will and a clear commitment to change, these reforms will remain ineffective, and the trust crisis will persist. This is the harsh reality in contemporary Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Police, like many other institutions, is steeped in the colonial history. The Police Act of 1861, still in force today, was originally designed by the British to control and suppress the population. The framework set by the Act prioritizes maintaining order and upholding state control over safeguarding civil liberties. While policing models around the world have evolved into more democratic, service-oriented systems, the Bangladesh's police force remains entrenched in an authoritarian structure, severely undermining its effectiveness and the public requirements.

The police are widely perceived not as protectors of the public, but as instruments of political power, enforcing the will of the ruling party rather than serving the needs of ordinary citizens. The violent suppression of protests, particularly in 2024, exemplified how the police have been used to silence dissent, protect political interests, and stifle calls for reform. 

For many citizens, the police remain an untrustworthy institution. The aftermath of the 2024 protests, in which police violence played a central role, exposed the depth of the crisis of trust. The PRC's assessment of public opinion further confirms this. 

The commission conducted an extensive survey, "Kemon Police Chai" (What Kind of Police Do We Want?), involving over 24,000 respondents. The survey revealed widespread dissatisfaction with key police services. Though the online GD system was intended to foster transparency and convenience, it has failed to gain public trust. Only 23.6 per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the service, while nearly 46 per cent voiced dissatisfaction. This stark disparity exposes a critical flaw in the police's approach to digitalizing services. 

Core services like the Women's Helpline and victim support programs have similarly failed to meet expectations. Many women, particularly in rural areas, find these services inaccessible or unresponsive. The 999 emergency helpline, for example, received a positive response from 56 per cent of survey respondents.

Without genuine political will and a clear commitment to change, the reforms will remain ineffective, and the trust crisis of police will persist.

In the heart of the crisis is the colonial legacy that still defines the Bangladesh Police. The outdated Police Act of 1861 enshrines a top-down, authoritarian model of policing that prioritizes the interests of the state over the protection of citizens' rights. The Act offers little in terms of accountability or transparency and fosters a culture of repression and impunity. 

A new law is essential-one that enshrines democratic principles, respects human rights, and encourages community policing. By shifting the focus from maintaining order through force to maintaining order through cooperation with communities, Bangladesh can begin to transform its police force into a more accountable and service-oriented institution. This viewpoint has been widely shared by intellectuals and civil society across the media.

The PRC's survey findings also emphasize the need to enhance the overall capacity of the police by providing officers with training grounded in the true essence of policing: politeness, obedience, loyalty, intelligence, courage, and efficiency. According to PRC sources, many officers are ill-prepared to handle the complexities of modern policing.

The PRC has highlighted the urgent need for independent oversight of the police.  According to the public demand, the Bangladesh Police should have the authority to investigate complaints, issue recommendations, and ensure that those found guilty of wrongdoing face appropriate consequences. Without such a mechanism, the police will continue to operate with impunity, and public trust will remain a distant goal.

The civil society thinkers argue that the police must also focus on improving services for vulnerable groups. The role of technology in modernising the police force cannot be overstated. Though the online GD system is currently underperforming, technology holds immense potential to improve police services and accountability.

 The commission has provided a framework for meaningful change. Yet the true test will be whether the government and the police have the political will to implement these reforms. The recommendations made by the PRC offer a clear roadmap for transforming the Bangladesh Police into a more professional, accountable, and service-oriented institution. But for this to happen, the government must commit to providing the necessary resources and political backing to ensure that these reforms are not mere exercises in paperwork, but lead to tangible improvements on the ground.

The role of good governance is inextricably linked to the responsibility of the police in effectively carrying out their duties. A well-governed society demands a police force that is not only professional and accountable but also aligned with democratic values, human rights, and the principles of justice. 

When governance structures empower the police to act with autonomy and accountability, the relationship between the state and its citizens can be rebuilt, and public trust can be restored. True reform, therefore, must include a commitment to good governance, where the police are not just enforcers of the law, but protectors of the public good and champions of justice for all. 

The writer is a journalist with The Daily Observer



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
How climate change impacts urban pregnant women
Political turmoil poses tough challenges for our business
Neighbours covet a stable Rakhaine
What to do if potato blight disease breaks out
Natural disasters are marking 2025 as a ‘Scary Year’
Many reasons for optimism about Syria and Lebanon
Los Angles blaze makes us rethink climate change effects
The saga of Bangladesh Army
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close