Everyone wants a police force free from political influence.

The commission formed for police reform was given various recommendations by several political parties, organizations, individuals, police forces, and foreign development agencies. This set of recommendations had one thing common in which all parties showed their intention to keep police free from political influence.

The same issue has also been mentioned with priority in the survey that was conducted by the Reform Commission. In the survey, 89.5 percent of the people wanted an end to the use of the police for political purposes. Similarly, most of the recommendations sent to the Reform Commission have proposed the formation of a police commission to bring the police force under accountability.

Besides, there has been a proposal to follow international standards or policies in the use of force to deal with disorderly situations. On the other hand, most of the proposals have sought an end to illegal detention and arrest by the police. At the same time, emphasis has been placed on various types of training for the police to give importance to human rights. Furthermore, it was suggested to bring reforms to the laws and rules framed during the British era.

In the proposal sent to the Reform Commission by the Police Headquarters, there is a proposal to construct an accountable people-oriented police force, shunning off the mentality of the colonial period. Alongside these, necessary reforms have been sought in the Police Act, PRB and other regulations made during the British era. In addition, it has been proposed to formulate new guidelines in the management of the police force, arrest, detention, search, seizure and other areas. In addition, a proposal has been made to constitute a police commission for bringing the police under accountability.

Several officials of the police headquarters told our time that the main purpose of the police formed during the British era was to consolidate the rule of the British rulers. The Bangladesh Police has been operating within that legal framework. As a result, there have been cases of unwanted interference from various quarters, including the government, in the past. In July-August, police faced the people to confront the mass uprising of the students-public. The force was severely damaged by this. It has not yet been able to fully recover. The police do not want to face the people in the future. According to police officials, it is not possible to eliminate the fundamental problems of the police without reforming the legal framework.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP submitted a total 17 proposals to the Reform Commission. There, too, a proposal has been made to build a police force free from political influence, accountability and corruption and to increase awareness of human rights. In addition, several steps have been proposed to prevent the recurrence of unreasonable violent force and cruel behavior by the police.

In addition, several recommendations have been made to put an end to the incidents of illegal detention, arrest, denial of release, detention and disappearance by the police for as long as they want. The BNP has given a proposal for a police commission with the chairman of the parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs to offer proper guidance, advice, and support to the police force. It has given in detail the proposal of with whom this police commission will be formed.

It has also been proposed that there be more intensive training on the use of force to protect human rights and order in police training institutions. Moreover, there is a proposal for the proper teaching of guidelines on the continuation of use of force in controlling unruly crowds. Further, BNP proposed the need to emphasize on minimum, proportionate, and lawful use of force and training on mob psychology.

In the developed world, if the police member performs more than 8 hours of government duty, the concerned police member is given financial incentives as overtime as per the rules. But the members of the Bangladesh Police Force do not get it. The Police Headquarters has forwarded a recommendation to the Police Reform Commission that the concerned police member be given financial benefits if he is made to work more than 8 hours of additional duty. The issue has also cropped up in the BNP proposal.

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