The misuse of the police by the political parties in power has made it an enemy of the people

TDS Desk:

If an old building is extended with only bricks and mortar without strengthening its foundation, there is always a fear that it would collapse. The situation of the Bangladesh Police may be said to be the same.

Its manpower and logistics have long been augmented and modern establishments have set up, but its laws – which can be considered as its foundation – have not been updated to keep up with the modern time.

The misuse of the police by the political parties in power has made it an enemy of the people instead of their friends.

Taking it into consideration, the last caretaker government made the Draft Police Ordinance-2007, which included an independent commission to run the force, but it did not see the light of the day.

After around 17 years, the newly formed interim government has assured the policemen of reforming the force by setting up an independent commission. The new government’s assurance came immediately after the police abstained from their duties after costing the lives of several hundred people and laying down their lives during the bloody violence centering the quota reform movement since July.

About 600 people were killed in the unrest. Of them, 42 were policemen, according to hospitals, the police and other sources.

During the mass uprising, the cops directed by an Awami League-led autocratic government came down hard on the students and common people. After the violence, a section of the police presented an 11-point demand to their higher authority so that they would never have to carry out such barbaric acts in future again.

On Sunday, Home Adviser to the Interim Government Brig Gen (Rtd) M Sakhawat Hossain told reporters that they will reform the police by setting up an independent commission which will operate the force.

The force cannot be used for political purposes, he said, adding that the uniform and logo of the police will also be changed to restore the cops’ confidence.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Nurul Huda said the prime challenge for the police is restoring the people’s confidence in the law enforcement agency.

The force may be reformed as per the rules and regulations, he said.

SM Ashrafuzzaman, additional DIG of police, told that the Draft Police Ordinance-2007 stated necessary points to reform the force for protecting it from political use and other deviations.

Even if the old ordinance is not enacted and a new ordinance is made, it will be better for the force, he said.

Additional DIG Maksudur Rahman told that whatever reformation is introduced, its implementation will matter the most. The reformation will be worthless without proper implementation.

Many laws have changed with the passage of time, but the Police Act-1861 and Police Regulations Bengal 1943 are yet to be amended to keep up with the modern time.

The enactment and implementation of the Draft Police Ordinance-2007 might bring positive results, he added.

A superintendent of police at the Anti-Terrorism Unit said the force needs a commission.

Mohammad Kabir, a sub-inspector of the police, said earlier they demanded reformation of the force, but it was not done.

“Now, assurance is being given, but we will wait to see it in reality, not just in words,” he said.

The police force has long been run by Police Act-1861 and Police Regulations Bengal 1943.

The 1861 law was enacted after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to suppress the people seeking independence, said a Dhaka University Criminology Department teacher, who wished not to be named.

The teacher said the 1943 regulation has provisions that allow the police to fire bullets at people to protect wealth, scatter illegal gatherings and expedite arrest in some cases.

But the authorisation of such firing has deprived the people of their rights, said the teacher.

For example, the teacher said, in September 2015, a mother was raped in front of her son at Kalihati in Tangail.  Then, a huge number of people gathered at the spot and protested against the heinous crime. As per the regulations, the police then fired bullets at the angry villagers, leaving three dead.