Bangladesh News

Nothing remarkable has yet been achieved to replace the age-old police laws of 1861, which encourage repressive and atrocious policing system, despite the recent reforms in the police department.

A committee formed following an order from the chief adviser’s office in March last year formulated the draft of Bangladesh Police Ordinance 2007 but it is still being given “finishing touches” by offices concerned.

The reforms so far made in the police department are the results of the police authority’s internal initiatives supported by the Police Reforms Programme (PRP).

These include opening of service delivery centres at a number of police stations and introduction of victim support centres under the supervision of female police officers. One day each month is being observed as “open house day” at a number of police stations for listening to the locals’ complaints.

The PRP has already organised training sessions for policemen on issues like crime scene, forensics, organised crime and terrorism and ICT.

Police top brass said they are now working without any political influence and they have formed intelligence units to watch over policemen which has seen around 17,000 policemen being punished on charges of corruption, harassing innocent people and making illegal arrests.

The police administration has also directed its forces not to arrest anyone if primary investigation does not prove them guilty.

The government has started providing 30 percent allowance for traffic police, costs for the investigations of some cases and ration.

The amount allocated for the police informants for different police stations earlier used to be misappropriated by the department’s top officials but it has now started reaching the police stations, particularly those in the capital. The police high-ups are also providing allocations for the maintenance of the police stations.

Top police officials, however, said these reforms would not last long if the Bangladesh Police Ordinance 2007 is not enacted and implemented curtailing influence of political government on the police.

“The political government usually uses the police as its main tool of repression. Policemen unwilling to carry out the government’s order were often posted to less important places,” said a top police official, seeking anonymity.

Sources said the police headquarters sent the draft ordinance to the home ministry around two months ago after incorporating necessary recommendations made by stakeholders at the divisional, district and upazila levels. But the ministry is yet to send back the draft.

This was for the first time that stakeholders at the grassroots level had been consulted for formulation of a law.

Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin said the ordinance would be enacted during the tenure of the present caretaker government, but a number of policemen anticipate that it may not because of “unjust” bureaucratic interference.

In February, the home ministry asked the police headquarters to consult the stakeholders on the draft. Top police officials, however, smelt a rat in the order. They alleged that the directive was given with an intention to waste time to avoid promulgating the laws during this government’s rule.

They also alleged that bureaucrats are not in favour of the privileges the ordinance would provide the police with.

Reservations about the proposed law even surfaced at the chief adviser’s meeting with deputy commissioners (DC) a few months back. The DCs argued that giving police so much power might be a great blow to the people.

However, police officials said if the ordinance is promulgated, police will be more accountable to the independent Police Commission.

THE ORDINANCE

The draft proposes that no officials between the ranks of superintendent of police (SP) and inspector general of police (IGP) can be transferred from their postings within two-three years of assuming the current responsibilities.

Recommendations from any minister, lawmaker or influential person for appointments, transfers or promotions will be considered a criminal offence.

The draft has also proposed forming a National Police Commission (NPC) and a Police Complaint Commission (PCC) for supervising policing.

The 11-member NPC will appoint the chief of police and investigate any allegation brought against the police chief. Nobody will be able to remove or transfer the IGP without the consent of the commission.

The NPC will also finalise a list of three nominees for the post of the police chief and forward it to the government after scrutinising their service records. Only then the government will appoint the police chief.

The proposed five-member PCC headed by a retired Supreme Court judge will ensure accountability of the police force.

The other PCC members are a former IGP or a former additional IGP, two representatives from the civil society including a woman, and a retired secretary or a retired additional secretary.