Photo: Bonik Barta The police force is crucial in maintaining peace and
order at the field level. Over the past fifteen years, many new positions and
appointments have been made in this force. According to the Ministry of Home
Affairs' Department of Public Security, from 2009 to 2023, a total of 83070 new
positions were created in the Bangladesh Police. During this period, 119,919
individuals were appointed to the positions of constable, SI, and police
sergeant, which accounts for nearly half of the total police force.
Analysts say that a large portion of these police
appointments were politically motivated. During the recent fifteen-year rule of
the ousted Awami League government, the police were primarily used as a tool to
maintain their hold on power.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency
International Bangladesh (TIB), emphasized the urgent need for reform to regain
public trust and reduce corruption within the police force. He told Bonik
Barta, "A major problem with our ruling authorities is that they do not
want to relinquish power; they want to make it permanent. Over the past fifteen
years, in their quest to make their power everlasting and embezzle funds, every
institution of the state, including the police, has been politicized. The major
appointments in the police force were also driven by political motives and were
used as a tool to sustain their power. As a result, they have lost the trust of
the people."
According to statistics published last November on
changes in the police force over the past fifteen years by the Department of
Public Security, the total number of police members in the country is
approximately 213,000. Among them, 105,925 are constables, 11,510 are
sub-inspectors (SIs), and 2,484 are police sergeants, all appointed after the
AL government came to power in 2009. The highest number of appointments for SI
and sergeant positions occurred during the AL's third term. During this term,
4,908 SIs and 727 sergeants were appointed. Between 2009 and 2013, 3,751 SIs
and 426 sergeants were appointed. Between 2014 and 2018, 2,845 SIs and 426
sergeants were appointed.
In the past fifteen years, 64 new police stations, 97
information centers, and one police outpost have been established in the
country. Additionally, 2,760 pickup trucks, 524 jeeps, 354 trucks, 13 armored
personnel carriers (APCs), 178 boats, and 7,634 motorcycles have been purchased
for the police. The firearms used by the police have also been modernized.
There has been long-standing criticism of the activities
of law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh. Concerns have been raised multiple
times by the international community regarding extrajudicial killings and
various other issues. However, the most recent incident of indiscriminate
firing by the police on students demanding quota reforms led to widespread
public outrage. This resulted in a popular uprising that led to the fall of the
AL government. Following this, there were attacks on police members in various
police stations across the country, which led to the deaths of many police
officers as well as ordinary people.
According to the Bangladesh Police Association, on August
5, more than 450 police stations across the country were attacked in a single
day. Previously, on August 4, 14 police officers were killed, and over 300 were
injured. In response to these incidents, non-cadre police members and officers
went on strike, demanding 11 points, including allowing the police to work
impartially and free from political interference. As a result, all police
stations and traffic points across the country were effectively deserted.
Regarding the police's role in the student protests, Dr.
Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, said, "People's trust in the
police had already diminished. People would only approach the police when they
had no other option. Even then, it was observed that victims were not receiving
help from the police, but rather, criminals were being protected by them.
Consequently, people had lost faith in the police long before. The recent
public anger towards the police, which emerged during the student protests, was
inevitable. The way the police acted under political orders and used force to
suppress the protests has led to this situation."
He added, "However, I do not believe that the police
were killed or that students set fire to police stations. They were seeking
justice through lawful means. Opportunistic groups might have instigated this
violence. Nevertheless, we need to reintegrate the police into maintaining
peace and order in the country. The students protesting for quota reform and
state reform have already begun their work; others must also come forward. It
is important to remember that not all police officers are criminals. Those who
followed orders and those who issued them must be held accountable.
Furthermore, we need fundamental changes in all institutions, including the
police, so that they work for public welfare rather than sustaining political
power. These changes will not happen overnight; patience is required."
Following the attacks on police across the country,
police members announced a strike starting on August 6. All police stations and
traffic points across the country were effectively deserted, leading to a major
security crisis. On August 7, police officers were instructed to return to work
within 24 hours. However, many officers expressed concerns about their safety
during this period. With the assistance of the army and Border Guard Bangladesh
(BGB), operations have resumed in various police stations nationwide.
Former police officers say that to resolve this crisis,
the police must step forward and focus heavily on regaining public trust.
Regarding the return to normal police operations, Muhammad Nurul Huda, the
former IGP, told Bonik Barta, "The police need to be restructured, but
restructuring is not an easy task. It is a lengthy process and requires
extensive discussion. For now, the police must step up to stabilize the
situation. They must be visible to the public and return to their duties."
Regarding police activities, Brigadier General (Ret.) M
Sakhawat Hossain, the Ministry of Home Affairs advisor in the new interim
government, said, "What the police have done is undoubtedly unforgivable.
Those most responsible will certainly face action. However, it is unacceptable
for the public to take matters into their own hands and harm the police before
an investigation. The large number of police appointments over the past fifteen
years was indeed politically motivated. On Sunday (August 11), I will go to the
ministry, and discussions will be held about the police. We will talk about how
to manage the police in a politically neutral manner, how to make the
recruitment process more transparent, and how to provide compensation to the
families of deceased police officers, among other matters."
Regarding plans in the current situation, he said,
"I do not know how long I will be able to stay. However, as long as I am
here, I will work on reforming the police. I will focus on how to prevent political
party interference in the police. I want to reform the police in such a way
that no one can use them as a political tool. We will try to create mechanisms
to achieve this. I will attempt to provide some ideas on how to make the police
more people-friendly and how to reduce corruption within the force. If
necessary, I will look into policing systems both within the country and
abroad. However, one thing to remember is that the police are part of humanity.
They are not technology that can identify and resolve problems in one day. This
is a complex and time-consuming issue."
