The government has initiated the process of creating 24,677 new revenue-budget posts in the Bangladesh Police to address critical manpower shortages, enhance law enforcement capacity, and strengthen the maintenance of public safety and law and order across the country.
According to an official progress report prepared by a committee under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the proposed expansion comes from a comparative analysis cited in official parliamentary documents.
It indicates that Bangladesh has a shortfall of 135,374 personnel against an estimated requirement based on police-to-population ratios in neighboring Asian countries.
The proposals are being processed through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Public Administration and the Finance Division, with different categories of positions at various stages of administrative consideration.
According to the report, Bangladesh's estimated population stands at over 17 crore.
Based on the regional comparison used in the analysis, the country would require approximately 354,123 police personnel to meet the stated benchmark.
However, the total sanctioned strength currently stands at 218,749 positions, comprising 207,938 police posts and 10,809 non-police posts.
The difference between the estimated requirement and the existing sanctioned strength leaves a reported deficit of 135,374 personnel.
The comparative analysis highlights substantial differences in police-to-population ratios across countries.
Talking to BSS on Saturday about the issue, additional IGP Gazi Jashim Uddin said: “With Bangladesh’s population exceeding 17 crore, the existing police strength is inadequate to meet growing public safety demands. Compared with Malaysia’s police-to-population ratio of 1:297 and Thailand’s 1:313, Bangladesh needs substantial manpower expansion,"
He added the proposed recruitment is a positive step towards improving law enforcement, public safety and service delivery.
The home ministry report has cited a United Nations peacetime benchmark of 40:1 and states that developed countries maintain at least one police officer for fewer than 400 citizens.
Among regional comparators, Malaysia has a reported ratio of 297:1, while Thailand's ratio stands at 313:1.
The figures have been cited to illustrate the gap between Bangladesh's existing policing capacity and the levels of law enforcement coverage in other countries.
Of the proposed 24,677 new positions, 10,000 are designated for constables and 4,000 for sub-inspectors (SIs).
These proposals are currently being processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs for submission to the Secretary Committee.
Meanwhile, proposals for 400 sergeant posts and 450 assistant superintendent of police (ASP) posts are awaiting administrative approval at the Ministry of Public Administration.
The expansion plan also includes 1,943 posts for field-level units, including police stations, investigation centres, outposts and operational camps.
The proposed staffing is intended to strengthen operational capacity and address manpower requirements at the unit level.
In addition to these positions, further proposals are being prepared for phased submission, with staffing requirements to be assessed according to the operational needs of individual units.
The proposed recruitment and post creation cover different levels of the police hierarchy, from constables and sub-inspectors to sergeants and ASPs, alongside personnel assigned to field operations.
The initiative is aimed at expanding the sanctioned workforce and strengthening law enforcement capacity across the country.
However, the proposed positions should not be considered completed recruitment, as the relevant proposals remain at different stages of processing and administrative approval.
Even if all 28,677 proposed positions are approved and added to the existing sanctioned strength, the increase would not fully eliminate the reported manpower gap of 135,374 personnel.
Further expansion would therefore be needed to close the difference between the current sanctioned workforce and the estimated requirement cited in the comparative analysis.
The progress of the initiative will depend on the completion of administrative procedures, the necessary approvals and the preparation of additional proposals by the relevant authorities.
The move represents a proposed expansion of the Bangladesh Police's sanctioned workforce as the government seeks to address longstanding staffing constraints and bring policing capacity closer to the regional benchmarks cited in the official analysis.