Bangladesh

Bangladesh Police

During the struggle for independence, policing broke down and law and order was maintained by combating forces. After independence, the police system needed to be entirely re-created as senior positions had been held primarily by officers from West Pakistan. Women have been part of the Bangladesh police since 1974. Although they initially focused exclusively on crimes against women or women perpetrators of crime, their role has since expanded. In addition to serving as regular members of urban police forces, women are members of the Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Division, immigration, district headquarters, and police headquarters.

The police are criticized by human rights organizations as reluctant to conduct impartial investigations against politically powerful players; the service also has a reputation for widespread corruption. The army-led October 2002 Operation Clean Heart led to widespread detention and allegations of torture of citizens; although the troops were withdrawn in the face of wide public opposition, officers were nevertheless given immunity from civilian prosecution. In 2003, controversy continued over the creation of a special anticrime force comprised of police and paramilitary organizations; police in Dhaka were reportedly given orders to “shoot on sight” violent offenders.

Police Structure and Organization

There is little publicly available current information about Bangladesh's police. In the late 1980s, the force was structured along a two-tier hierarchy. In 1988, total police strength was estimated at 40,000 to 50,000. According to statements made by police officials to the press, in 2004 the force numbered slightly over 100,000 (a ratio of 1 for every 1,380 inhabitants).

The police force is headed by an inspector general and is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. At the headquarters level, staff departments include District Police, Criminal Investigation Division, Special Branch, Railway Police, Traffic Police, River Police, City Police, Cavalier Police, Armed Police Battalion, and Range Reserve Force.

The police hierarchy generally follows the administrative divisions of the country into ranges, districts, and subdistricts. Police districts are gathered into six civilian ranges (and one railway range) and supervised by deputy inspector generals. In major urban areas, commissioners of police direct the work of the force and report directly to the inspector general.

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