Inspector general of police Baharul Alam on Wednesday observed that the proposal of police reform commission downplayed the core issues of governance, including keeping police free from political interference and undue process.
鈥楾he current interim government, with sincere intent and genuine enthusiasm, constituted a commission dedicated to police reform鈥� Unfortunately, it downplayed the core issue of governance, whereby police should be free from political interference and undue process,鈥� said the IGP while addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of a dialogue on police reform in a city hotel.
The dialogue titled 鈥楶romoting a multi-stakeholder approach to support police reform in Bangladesh to advance comprehensive, people-centred, and human rights-based reform efforts鈥� jointly organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.
鈥楽ince 2006, we have strongly proposed for comprehensive legal and institutional reforms, including the establishment of an independent police commission with the mandate to oversee policy, performance, integrity and fairness in policing,鈥� IGP Baharul said.
UNODC deputy regional representative for South Asia Suruchi Pant gave the welcome speech, while its head of office in Bangladesh Felipe Ramos described the aims and objectives of the dialogue.
BIISS director general Major General Iftekhar Anis chaired the inaugural session.
The first roundtable styled 鈥楶olice professionalisation, independence and community engagement鈥� was moderated by Shah Mohammad Naheeaan, national programme coordinator, UNODC Bangladesh.聽
The second roundtable titled 鈥楶romoting a human rights-based approach to the use of force and firearms: effective and evidence-based investigations and interviewing approaches鈥� was moderated by former IGP Nurul Huda.
The third roundtable on 鈥楽trengthening accountability and oversight mechanisms and enhancing institutional integrity鈥� was moderated by UNODC head of office in Bangladesh Felipe Ramos.
