Transparency International Bangladesh on Wednesday urged the government to comprehensively revise the draft Police Commission Ordinance, 2025, finalised by the interim government, to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the long-awaited Independent Police Commission.
The organisation, in a statement, said that it, based on a clause-by-clause review of the draft obtained from reliable sources, had identified several issues that pose serious risks to the commission鈥檚 independence and functionality.
It warned that, if the issues were left unaddressed, the ordinance could pave the way for government control over the commission and turn it into a workplace for former bureaucrats and police officials.
Although the draft has not been officially published by the government, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman, referring to the version obtained from credible sources, pointed out risks regarding the composition of the selection committee and the commission, recruitment, and financial independence.
The proposed inclusion of one retired bureaucrat and two police officials in the seven-member commission risks transforming the body into a center that rewards past loyalty and brings it under the control of the government鈥檚 executive branch, he said.
Following international best practices, the provision allowing former or current bureaucrats and police officers to serve as members must be abolished, he said.
Instead, the commission should be composed of impartial experts in law, justice, law enforcement, human rights, and good governance, including university teachers and researchers, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman said, 鈥楾o safeguard the commission鈥檚 independence and effectiveness, the provision requiring government approval for staff recruitment must be abolished, and full authority over recruitment should be vested in the commission.鈥�
The TIB executive director also said the provision allowing a retired police officer to serve as the member-secretary of the commission must be repealed, and the authority to recruit all staff, including the secretary, should rest entirely with the commission through an open and competitive process, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman said the ordinance should also stipulate that the secretary鈥檚 rank and salary will be equivalent to that of a government secretary. In addition to serving as the commission鈥檚 chief executive officer, the secretary should, by virtue of office, act as a non-voting member of the commission.
Furthermore, the ordinance must clearly specify how a citizen with proven experience in human rights protection and the promotion of good governance will be included as a member of the selection committee, he added.
The statement further recommended including a clause requiring the government, within six months of the commission鈥檚 establishment, to prepare and enact a modern Police Act, drawing on the positive elements of the long-shelved draft Police Ordinance 2007, to replace the colonial-era law.
TIB also demanded the inclusion of a clause stipulating that 鈥榯he government shall ensure allocation of the budget requested by the commission, and the commission shall publish its annual audited expenditure report on its website within seven working days of submission.鈥�