Reforms a ‘disappointment’ for police as ‘fear’ looms over taking effective action

At the heart of this year’s Police Week is the force’s effort to showcase a "turnaround" following the violent clashes with the public during the July Uprising.

Yet beneath the surface, morale remains bruised as frustrations over stalled reforms persist, compounded by a lingering "fear" of taking decisive action in incidents involving political, religious groups, or student bodies.

A crippling "fear" has gripped the police force, fuelled by the arrests of officers accused of killings during the mass uprising. This deep-seated anxiety, coupled with persistent reform disappointments, raises serious questions about the law-enforcing agency's readiness to manage the challenges of the upcoming general election.

Officials acknowledge that police morale, shattered by allegations of using excessive force during the July Uprising and the violence following the fall of the Awami League government, has yet to fully recover.

A raft of initiatives are under way to rebuild the force’s spirit, including changes to the police logo and uniforms as part of a broader effort to reinvent the agency’s image. It is, however, clear from the statements of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam that the esprit de corps remains fragile.

Speaking on Monday, the eve of Police Week, IGP Baharul admitted that the force had suffered a major “trauma.” He emphasised ongoing efforts to help police personnel overcome this psychological toll and to restore public trust.

The IGP also noted that investigations are still under way to determine the responsibility of officers involved in the killings during the movement.

Field-level police officers are also demoralised. Their responsibility is to protect the citizens and resources of the country, but without assurances of protection, the law enforcers remain uneasy in their task.

They say the “misdeeds” of their past weigh heavily on them as they look forward to a fresh political rule.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs published the first gazette on Jan 16, which included the names of 834 “martyrs” from across the country.

The UN High Commission for Human Rights, which investigated the events from Jul 1 to Aug 15, published a report in February estimating the deaths of more than 1,400 in that period, based on information on deaths from different “reliable sources”.

The majority of the deaths, per the report, were caused by lethal weapons, military rifles and shotguns used by security forces of the country.

After the use of “excessive force” to suppress the movement on Aug 5, members of the force turned on their leaders, blaming some senior officers for the many policemen who were killed in the movement and for making the police take up arms against the public.

After the government fell, police officers known to be close to the government went into hiding, followed by stern demands for reforms from those in lower ranks.

After the shift in the political landscape, the police have returned to their stations with reshuffles at different levels and reform initiatives afoot.

The interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, has formed a commission to reform the police force, which has already framed recommendations and submitted its report.

Senior police officers, however, say that their demands of forming an independent commission to supervise the activities of the force have not drawn the expected response.

Under these circumstances, bdnews24.com spoke to at least 12 police officers over the past week.

All of these police officers identified fresh obstacles in their service, also directing anger at the former leaders. However, none of them wanted to be named.

They said no one “believes” that the force will be reformed now as the penetrating question at the core of the “crisis” remains -- how can police turn things around?

The officers said that police, who were “brutal” during the anti-discrimination movement and later attacked and killed in the uprising, are still facing “insults and humiliation” on the streets. Instances of police members being “beaten” when they are found alone have become commonplace. While Awami League is out of the frame now, police are being monitored by entities under the guise of “July fighters” or other political identities as legal cases from the movement continue piling pressure on them.

These officials said that many people arrested as militants during the previous government's tenure have been released on bail, while many have escaped from different jails amid the chaos of the mass uprising. Many of these fugitives were trained in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and heavy weapons. Also, many of the listed criminals and accused in multiple murder cases arrested during the Awami League’s 15-year rule were released. With many of them linked to political patronage, the pressure on police is ever mounting.

On top of all these, they said, it is almost impossible for the demoralised police to take action against militants or top terrorists who are politically favoured now.

POLICE IN A STATE OF ‘PANIC AND FEAR’

An officer of the superintendent of police (SP) rank serving in Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) said, “To overcome the current situation, police must be given full independence in their operations.

“But the problem is, arrests of officers in different cases have created widespread fear.”

He noted that in cases involving political or religious figures, local station officers are reluctant to take action, fearing repercussions if the political winds shift after a change in government.

“The police are unable to act effectively in movements or clashes involving students, with the primary concern being the possibility of complaints reaching higher authorities,” the officer said.

“This is because students were at the forefront of the July movement, and their stakeholders are also part of the government.”

An SP officer recently transferred from Rangpur Range to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said, “Those in the police who have committed offences are now in fear.”

According to him, “After conducting three controversial elections in a row, police became reckless. Field officers would not listen to their superiors on even basic matters.

“There was also a significant amount of arrest trade before and after the elections. Many police personnel made a lot of money by arresting BNP-Jamaat members in fictitious cases during that time."

The SP added that some officers are now under scrutiny for allegedly torturing detainees at police stations, and these individuals are especially reluctant to perform active duties. “They are the ones loudly claiming that the police force has collapsed.”

One of his batchmates now posted at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stressed the importance of identifying and isolating those responsible for misconduct if the institution is to be salvaged.

He said: “People now view the entire police force as thieves and thugs due to the July issue. But the police is a disciplined institution.

“By following the chain of command, the responsible individuals can be identified. It is not difficult to trace where the command to kill came from and who received it.”

The CID officer proposed a separate “July Commission” within the police to determine the responsibility and involvement of officers during the July incidents.

He also cautioned that since 44 officers were reportedly killed during the movement, the matter of prosecuting those deaths must be handled “sensitively”.

“If not, many involved in the protests may fear being accused of murdering police, which could alienate large segments of the population.

“Steps must be taken to dispel such concerns from the public mindset.”

The officer further emphasised the need to separately investigate every allegation of enforced disappearance, custodial death, and abuse of power over the past 15 years, examining each within its specific context.

“For example, what happened with Hifazat at Shapla Chattar cannot be equated with the anti-Modi movement. Each had a different context and chain of command,” he said.

The Police Headquarters has said officers who were involved in controversial actions, including disappearances and killings during the July movement, are being identified.

A total of 119 officers, from the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and above, have been reassigned to different units; 82 have been made officers on special duty (OSDs) while 57 are reportedly absconding.

So far, 24 officers have been arrested, and another 30 with over 25 years in service have been sent into compulsory retirement.

‘FRUSTRATION’ OVER REFORM

At a press briefing on Monday marking Police Week, the IGP spoke, and his tone reflected nothing but frustration over the issue of reform.

Referring to the long-pending proposal from the Police Headquarters for an independent police commission, he said the Police Reform Commission had yet to provide any structural framework.

“We are still waiting on this,” he said. “We have informed the government. Many say that if it doesn't happen under this government, it never will. That’s why we’re doing our utmost right now.”

The issue of police reform has repeatedly surfaced after Aug 5, 2024. Like other sectors of the state, the government formed a commission to work on police reform.

The panel submitted its first-phase report on Jan 15.

As expected in the post-uprising context, the commission recommended setting boundaries on police use of force to control unlawful gatherings and processions, and guidelines for arrest without a warrant and custodial interrogation.

The Police Reform Commission also collected public views while drafting its recommendations.

Of the respondents, 88.7 percent stressed the need to make the police force free from “political influence”.

Experts echoed that political interference was entrenched across the board.

Unless that is addressed, they said, meaningful police reform would not be possible.

They also emphasised that political bureaucracy often leads to the force being controlled, and recommended placing police under an independent commission to ensure autonomy beyond partisan control.

When asked about the current status of reform discussions, IGP Baharul said: “We were quite hopeful that since a reform commission had been formed, it would present some crucial recommendations for police.

“We also submitted some proposals of our own.”

He added, “The foremost was the formation of an independent police commission. The aim is not to separate the police from the executive branch entirely, but to give them some operational autonomy — not administrative.

“The commission agreed in principle but didn’t elaborate or provide any structural framework.

“Our key recommendation was to preserve that autonomy in policing. We are still waiting on that. We hope it will be taken into consideration.”

‘TOO EARLY TO IDENTIFY WHO GAVE SHOOTING ORDERS’

Allegations arose of excessive police force against students and the public to quell the July-August anti-government protests.

Though police have apologised to families of those killed, it remains unclear who ordered and carried out the shootings.

When asked why accountability has yet to be established eight months after the uprising, IGP Baharul said: It's not possible to confirm at this stage. Each case is under investigation. In some, one officer points to another.

“There are 1,500 cases—600 of them murder.”

He added that final conclusions on who gave orders or fired shots can only be drawn once investigations are complete.

On bringing back police officers allegedly involved in the killings who are currently abroad, the police chief said: “When evidence emerges during investigations, we try to arrest those in the country.

“For those who are abroad, we can request Interpol to help return them,” he added. “Interpol then issues what it calls a red notice to all its member states.”

WHEN WILL FULL 'CAPACITY' RETURN?

The IGP has said their current challenge is to build a fully functional and service-oriented police force—distinct from the pre-Aug 5 model.

This year’s Police Week theme “My Police, My Country, a Discrimination-Free Bangladesh” reflects that aim.

He noted that a lack of full public confidence in the police is leading people to take the law into their own hands.

“If people start punishing others themselves, we must resist that socially. It wouldn’t happen if trust in police was fully restored. We're working to earn that trust.”

Asked how long it might take to reach full capability, he said: “Was the pre-Aug 5 police fully effective or what you expected? Certainly not. We aim to build a force that meets your expectations.

“It’s a continuous journey—but there will come a point when people will say ‘Police do not misbehave, and services are accessible’.”

He added, “We’ve gone through major trauma. To recover, we needed more expert support, psychological counselling, and guidance to help our personnel overcome it.”

The IGP also expressed frustration over persistent lobbying. “I often face undue requests—release someone, transfer someone, give someone a medal.

“I earnestly ask the public to let me follow the rules. Please reduce such unfair demands as much as possible,” he concluded.

[Writing in English by Syed Mahmud Onindo and Sheikh Fariha Bristy]