Police reform as per UN probe team proposal: Rizwana

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for environment, forests, climate change, and water resources, on Sunday said that police reform in Bangladesh will be undertaken based on proposals from a UN investigation team.

Speaking to reporters at her office, the adviser addressed questions about recent police atrocities, which have been highlighted in videos going viral on social media. 

In response to whether police reform could help restore public trust, Rizwana Hasan said that the UN fact-finding mission has included recommendations to prevent such incidents from recurring. 

These recommendations will encompass security reforms and the establishment of a police commission.

"We cannot undo what has happened, but we must ensure that such incidents do not happen again," she emphasised.

Reflecting on public perceptions of the police, Rizwana Hasan said, "We learned as children that bad people fear the police, but today, good people are also afraid of them. It has yet to be proven that the police are truly the friends of the people.” 

“Over the years, the police have been used by various groups, distancing themselves from their role as public servants. However, there is now a strong push for change within the police force itself. They recognise the need for significant reforms to become more acceptable to the public," she added.

She also pointed out the outdated legal framework governing the police, stating, "The police of independent Bangladesh is operated under the British-era Police Act of 1861. The British did not establish the police in Bangladesh to serve the public.”

“Discussions are ongoing about when the police commission will be formed. Once we receive the proposals from the United Nations, we aim to engage in a comprehensive dialogue on how to build a people-oriented police force," she said.