Bangladesh Police
CA Dr Yunus asks police to launch online case filing for easier access
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday directed the police across the country to introduce online filing of cases.
The Chief Adviser issued his instruction during a review of the country's law-and-order situation at a high-level meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna.
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Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, and Home Secretary Nasimul Gani also attended the meeting.
Currently, an FIR can only be filed after a visit to the nearest police station. The procedure is cumbersome and leaves opportunities for abuse, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.
Prof Yunus said the police should set up a dedicated call number -- like 999 -- to enable complainants to file a first information report (FIR) from any part of the country.
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"This will reduce the hassles our people face when they file a case," he said, directing the national police chief, Baharul Alam, to launch a new phone number for online FIR filing as early as possible.
The Chief Adviser has also directed the police chief to set up a dedicated call centre to answer queries on online filing of cases. "People who would struggle to file a case online, can easily take help from the call centre," he said.
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4 days ago
Three senior police officials sent compulsory retirement
The government has sent three senior officials of the Bangladesh Police on compulsory retirement.
According to separate notifications, issued on January 1, three Additional Inspector Generals (AIGPs) -- Malik Fakhrul Islam, Selim Md Jahangir and WM Belalur Rahman --have been relieved of their duties by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
65 senior police officers, including DIGs and SPs, transferred
The notifications specify that the retired officers will be entitled to post-retirement benefits as per the regulations.
1 month ago
65 senior police officers, including DIGs and SPs, transferred
A total of 65 officers of the Bangladesh Police, holding the ranks of DIG, Additional DIG, and Superintendent of Police (SP), have been transferred. Among them, three are DIGs, 14 are Additional DIGs, and 48 are SPs.
On Wednesday, two separate notifications were issued by the Police-1 branch of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding their transfers.
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The notifications were signed by Deputy Secretary Abu Sayeed on behalf of the President.
According to the notifications, officers have been transferred from various departments, including the Police Headquarters, Highway Police, Range DIG Offices, DMP, In-Service Training Center, River Police, PBI, CID, and SB.
1 month ago
Unprecedented crisis grips Bangladesh Police after 2024 political upheaval
The Bangladesh Police force is facing an unprecedented crisis in the wake of the political upheaval and subsequent regime change that occurred earlier this year.
The student-led mass upsurge in July and August culminated in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year administration on August 5, leaving the nation’s law enforcement in disarray.
For the first time since independence, the country witnessed widespread attacks on police stations. Firearms and ammunition were looted, with many police officers either fleeing their posts or taking refuge in barracks and other safe locations.
Operations at most police stations across the country were suspended following the downfall of the Hasina government, exacerbating concerns over public safety and law enforcement.
17 senior police officials transferred
Some police stations were set alight, forcing officers to abandon their posts.
Then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam said on August 11 that 42 police personnel were killed and 507 injured during clashes in July and August.
According to Police Headquarters (PHQ), 5,829 firearms, including Chinese rifles, SMGs, pistols, and shotguns, as well as 606,742 bullets, were looted from police establishments on 5 August.
Besides, over 31,000 teargas shells, 1,455 teargas grenades, 4,692 sound grenades, and various other munitions were reported stolen.
Recovery Efforts and Missing Arsenal
A joint operation to recover the looted weapons began on 4 September. , 1,419 firearms and 263,153 rounds of ammunition remain unaccounted for, raising serious concerns about their potential misuse.
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Police sources revealed that many looted weapons are believed to be in the hands of criminal elements, further endangering public safety. Civil society groups have urged immediate action to address the alarming implications of this crisis.
Operational Challenges and Absconding Officers
The political shift has left the police force grappling with conflicting directives and an erosion of operational clarity.
Many officers, unsettled by the changes, have struggled to perform their duties effectively. Some have fled to undisclosed locations or even abroad, fearing trials for alleged misconduct during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
PHQ data reveals that one deputy inspector general (DIG), seven additional DIGs, two superintendents of police, and numerous lower-ranking officers and constables have been absconding since August. Among the most notable names are Monirul Islam, Additional IGP and chief of the Special Branch (SB); Harun Or Rashid, former additional commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police; and Proloy Kumar Joarder, Additional DIG of PHQ.
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In response, the authorities have suspended the salaries and allowances of absconding personnel and initiated legal proceedings against them.
Impact on Public Safety
The absence of effective law enforcement has led to a noticeable increase in crime and a diminished police presence on the streets. Civil society organisations have called for an urgent overhaul of the police force, stressing the need for improved training, transparency, and a cohesive strategy to restore order.
Local communities have expressed growing frustration, with many questioning the government’s ability to stabilise the situation.
Experts have recommended a thorough review of the police’s operational guidelines, suggesting that they be updated to reflect the new political landscape.
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Government Response
The Home Ministry is expected to outline a comprehensive plan to address the challenges faced by the police force.
This includes measures to rebuild public trust, strengthen law enforcement, and adapt the force’s operations to meet current demands.
As the nation watches closely, the resilience of the police force remains in question. Whether it can recover from this unprecedented turmoil and continue its critical role in ensuring public safety will be a key test for the new administration.
1 month ago
4 police officers, including former Mirpur Deputy Commissioner, temporarily suspended
Four police officers, including former Deputy Commissioner (Mirpur Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Md. Jasim Uddin Molla, were temporarily suspended on Tuesday.
The other suspended officers are: Additional Deputy Commissioner (Gulshan Division) of DMP Md. Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Commissioner (Traffic-Jatrabari Zone) of DMP Tanjil Ahmed, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of APBN, Md. Rafiqul Islam.
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The suspension orders were issued by the Police-1 section of the Public Security Division under the Home Ministry on Tuesday.
Separate notifications have already been issued, signed by Senior Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen on the order of the President.
According to the notification, former DC of DMP and currently attached to the Rangpur Range DIG office Md. Jasim Uddin Mollah has been charged with crimes under the International Crimes Tribunal Act and an arrest warrant has been issued. He was arrested from Rangpur on October 30.
Accordingly, Md. Jasim has been suspended from government service with effect from October 30 under the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018).
During the period of suspension, he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per the rules.
Former ADC (Gulshan Division) Md. Rafiqul Islam's notification said that he was arrested on October 18 in a case filed by Badda Police Station and sent to court.
Rafiqul has been temporarily suspended from government service from October 18 as per the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018). During the temporary suspension, Rafiqul will be attached to the office of the Chattogram Range DIG and will receive allowance as per the rules.
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The notification of AC (Traffic-Jatrabari Zone)Tanjil Ahmed said that he was arrested on October 15 in a case filed with Jatrabari Police Station and sent to court.
Therefore, Tanjil Ahmed has been temporarily suspended from government service from October 15 as per the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018), the notification said.
During the period of his temporary suspension, Tanjil will be attached to the office of the Barisal Range DIG and will be entitled to get allowance as per the rules.
Another notification on ASP of APBN Md. Rafiqul Islam said that he was arrested on September 13 in a case filed with Hathazari Model Police Station of Chattogram and sent to court.
Rafiqul has been temporarily suspended from government service from September 13 as per the provisions of Section 39 (2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018).
During the period of temporary suspension, Rafiqul Islam will be attached to the office of Mymensingh Range DIG and will be entitled to get allowance as per the rules.
1 month ago
60% call for independent probe into rights violations by police: Survey
Sixty percent of those taking part in a survey have demanded investigations into allegations of human rights violations by the police through an independent organisation.
Many also supported forming a permanent investigative commission led by a retired justice of the High Court to probe such allegations against the police according to the survey titled ‘The Kind of Police We Want.’ Currently, no independent body investigates such allegations.
71.5% support punishing police for excessive force: Survey
The survey findings were revealed on Tuesday by the Public Relations Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Section 18 of the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 bars the Commission from investigating allegations against the police or other law enforcement agencies.
Of the remaining respondents, another group advocates empowering the Human Rights Commission through legal amendments to investigate such allegations.
The survey also uncovered that 58.9% of respondents support creating a regulatory agency or commission to ensure police accountability and shield them from undue influence. Meanwhile, 41.1% favour establishing an independent ombudsman for the police within a constitutional framework.
44.9% dissatisfied with online police clearance: Survey
The Home Ministry conducted this survey with the participation of 24,442 people. Among them, 86.6% were aged between 18 and 44. However, nearly 95% of the respondents were male.
Of the respondents, 36.4% were employed, 27.2% were students, 7.6% were businessmen, and 7.1% belonged to other significant categories. Most respondents were from Dhaka district, followed by Chattogram and Cumilla.
2 months ago
71.5% support punishing police for excessive force: Survey
A recent survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed that 71.5% of people demand punishment for police members involved in excessive use of force to handle protest marches and suppress opposing views.
The findings emerged from the analysis of the survey titled 'What Kind of Police Do We Want?' conducted by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry.
Survey results on ‘The Police We Want’ published
The Police Reform Commission released the survey results on Tuesday.
The survey highlighted strong public sentiment regarding the need for accountability and the safeguarding of human rights.
"…71.5% of respondents want punishment for police members involved in excessive use of force to handle protest marches and suppress dissent, which amounts to human rights violations and is considered a criminal act," the survey results indicated.
Besides, 68.8% of respondents supported including international human rights guidelines and formalising standard procedures in policing. They believed such measures would strengthen adherence to human rights.
The survey also found that 68.27% of respondents backed rewarding and penalising police members annually to encourage respect for and loyalty to human rights.
The survey also addressed public opinion on the need for prior approval from the Metropolitan Police Commission to organise meetings and gatherings.
Fifty-one point eight percent of respondents considered this requirement contrary to fundamental rights. In contrast, 37.4% did not fully agree with the requirement, and 10.8% were uncertain or hesitant.
Speakers call for urgent police reform to create public-friendly policing
The survey said that Article 37 of the Constitution recognises the fundamental right to organise meetings and express opinions. But, under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Law 1976, the police commissioner holds the power to postpone such gatherings for up to 30 days in the public interest.
The requirement for prior approval, however, is not mentioned in this law. Regarding the democratic development of the country, 71.2% of respondents expressed the desire to amend this provision.
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The survey also shed light on the public's views on Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with 82.5% of respondents considering it an easily misused law. Among them, 46.2% called for modernising the section.
They argued that reforming this colonial-era law would uphold democratic values and implement measures that offer a scientifically beneficial quality of life. Specifically, 39.7% of respondents supported amending Section 54 based on recommendations from higher courts.
The ministry's survey engaged 24,442 participants, with 86.6% aged between 18 to 44 years. Job holders made up 36.4%, students 27.2%, and business owners 7.6%, while 7.1% were in other occupations. Most respondents came from Dhaka, followed by Chattogram and Cumilla.
2 months ago
Survey results on ‘The Police We Want’ published
The Police Reform Commission has released the results of its public opinion survey titled “The Police We Want”.
The findings are now accessible on the commission’s official website at www.prc.mhapsd.gov.bd, said a media release on Tuesday.
The release highlights the growing demand for police reform following widespread criticism of the violent actions of some police officers during recent anti-discrimination student protests.
Speakers call for urgent police reform to create public-friendly policing
In response, the government established the Police Reform Commission to facilitate necessary changes within the force. As part of its ongoing activities, the commission conducted the public opinion survey to gather insights and perspectives from citizens on the kind of police force they desire.
The survey aims to pave the way for a more accountable, transparent, and community-focused police force in Bangladesh, reflecting the expectations and concerns of the populace.
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2 months ago
Speakers call for urgent police reform to create public-friendly policing
Speakers at a discussion stressed the urgent need for structural and cultural changes within the police force, aiming to create a more public-friendly and efficient force.
A discussion titled "Why Has the Police Force Not Become Public-Friendly Even After 53 Years? Police Reform: Why? Which Path?" was organised by human rights organization 'Humanity Foundation' at the SIRDAP Auditorium on Saturday.
Zakia Shishir, a relative of Mir Mughdho, a martyr of July-August movement, said,"We constantly hear about the bad behavior of police. But why is it bad? We've been hearing this for 53 years. Has there been any research on it within the police? We need to focus on these areas. We want public-friendly police."
Syed Abdullah, a former law student at Dhaka University and an online activist, said, "The amount of bribery one has to pay to join the police force is huge. Once they get the job, they want to recover that money. If the practice of bribery is not stopped at the time of recruitment, there will always be a tendency to extort money later."
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Abdul Mannan, a former sub-inspector of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said "I worked as a sub-inspector in the DMP, and the amount of hardship we go through makes us want a separate quota for ourselves. Some of us receive rations, while others don’t. This is also a form of discrimination."
Former DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Mezbaun Nabi said, "We feel that this is our last chance. Whether it's state reform or police reform, we must take action now. There is a branch within the police called RAB, but giving them weapons and duties without proper training for just six days is not enough. It's not just 53 years; I would say that a bad culture has been ingrained in the police force for 163 years. Particularly over the last 15 years, the mentality has been instilled in the police that they must protect their ruler. Therefore, reform is not enough; there needs to be a change in the police's mindset."
2 months ago
SB regrets Editor Nurul Kabir’s harassment at airport
The Special Branch (SB) of the Bangladesh Police has expressed regret over the harassment of New Age Editor Nurul Kabir at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“The SB has initiated an investigation into the incident and the officer involved has already been withdrawn,” the Special Branch of Police said in a media release on Sunday.
According to the statement, the incident occurred due to the "blocked list" created during the previous Sheikh Hasina government.
“Thousands of people were included in this list to prevent them from travelling abroad. Following the change in government, the Special Branch has been working to remove political figures, dissidents, journalists and human rights activists from the list. As the process is being carried out manually, some names remain on the list, leading to such incidents,” reads the statement.
Govt regrets editor Nurul Kabir's harassment at airport
The Special Branch assured the public that efforts are underway to quickly verify and correct the list. The police reiterated their commitment to being a friend of people and setting an example in serving the nation and its citizens.
Nurul Kabir alleged that he was harassed at to the airport recently.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus had ordered an investigation into the matter, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad on Saturday.
"We sincerely regret the incident. The interim government will not tolerate harassment of any journalists in the country," Azad said.
2 months ago