The Police Reform Commission has recommended for a double layer recruitment, reducing the use lethal weapons, and permanent “Police Commission” to bring the force into accountable.
A constitution and new laws will be proposed in the report of the Police Reform Commission to give it a permanent form.
The report also highlighted on the need of various training for police emphasizing on human right issues. Besides, the commission recommended following the international standards while using force to deal with disorderly situations.
Source confirmed that although the draft of the report is ready, the commission will seek for two more weeks to submit the final report to the government.
A total 24,442 people participated in online public survey of the commission titled “What kind of police we want?” Of those, 89.5 percent of the respondents want an end to the use of the police for political purposes. And they also proposed for a “Police Commission” to ensure accountability of the force.
74.9 percent of the attendants voted for bringing the police members who involved in criminal activities under accountability and punishment, considering enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings as “extreme violation to human rights”. 95 percent of respondents want reform of cultures fake cases or fabricated cases.
Police Reform Commission member and Narcotics Control department’s former director Mohammad Iqbal told Bangladesh Pratidin that the report will recommend eliminating the invisible competition between the executive and the police department. He said: “If it is not sorted who is superior between executive and police then there will be problems in coordinating works.”
17 attempts were made to reform police, and this is the 18th attempt. Various development partners worldwide, including the United Nations have offered help in police reforms, and had several meeting with reform commission at the police headquarters. And there too, they emphasized on reestablishing police as a force that will be free of political influence, and accountable. They also recommended for an independent commission, and following international standards while dealing with disorderly situations.
On Thursday, the reform commission has held a meeting with the delegates of police headquarters led by Additional IGP Md Matiur Rahman Sheikh.
Police officials recommended for two-tire recruitment in the force. The delegate said: “The qualification for recruitment of constables will be HSC, and they will be serving in the police for two or three years. Then they will be admitted to the University for a Graduation of at least three years.”
There will be a separated syllabus for them. MoU can be signed with various universities in this regard or separate university or medical college can be established. The courses will be focusing on human rights and policing, they added.
After completion of three year graduation, they will be eligible to sit for exam for sub-inspector [SI], they continued, adding: “The ongoing procedure can be followed for the ASP recruitment.”
Besides, police officials have shared their opinion on reducing lethal weapons in the police and using short-barreled weapons.
They also said: “The police member must showcase their identity and inform family or lawyers while arresting someone.”
The commission members hugely agreed with the opinions given by the police officers.
It was known that the commission has sent a draft report to the police headquarters then the headquarters shared its opinion after reviewing it and sent it to the commission for further reform.
They highlighted 5 key issues; in particular, building an accountable, pro-people police force, breaking away from the colonial-era mentality. Besides, it proposed reviewing and brining changes in colonial era police law, PRB and other rules and regulations.
They also wanted for a new guideline for this force’s management, arrests, detainment, search and seizure; also proposed for an independent “Police Commission”.
It has been said that all kinds of police demands should be sent to higher levels through the recommendations of the commission. Therefore, many complications will be resolved.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan, an attendant in the meeting, said that they shared their opinion and believe that the commission will consider their opinion seriously.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has placed its 17 point proposal to the commission, including a “Police Commission” specifying who will be the members of the commission.
Besides, it asked to make police force free from political influence, accountability and corruption and to increase awareness of human rights. It has also been proposed to take several steps to prevent the recurrence of unreasonable violent force and cruel behavior by the police.
In addition, several recommendations have been made to end the incidents of illegal detention, arrest, denial of release, detention and disappearance by the police for as long as they want.
BNP also asked to pay overtime to police like the developed countries, and police headquarters’ proposal matched this too.
Criminologist and Dhaka University associate professor Dr Md Tawohidul Haque said: “The police must be brought out of the image of a ‘Petua’ force.”
He also recommended ensuring that no political party or individual can use the police as their truncheon. Otherwise, everything will end in failure.
It is known, the beside the political parties and police officials, various development partners also placed their opinion to the commission.
In commission’s survey, 71.5 percent of respondents wanted the police officers who used excessive force to deal with protests and suppress opposition parties to be punished. 68.8 percent of respondents favored enacting regulations to follow the replaced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) incorporating international human rights guidelines. 58.9 percent of respondents in the survey favored a regulatory body or commission to keep the police accountable and free from various influences.
Commission member human rights activist ASM Nasiruddin Alan said: “It may not be possible to submit the report within the stipulated time. It may take another two weeks.”
Translated by Afsar Munna
