We wholeheartedly support the Police Reform Commission (PRC) recommending increasing the number of women police officers. Indeed, the inclusion of more women in Bangladesh’s police force goes beyond a matter of gender equity; instead, it could be the beginning of a more effective, empathetic, and accountable law enforcement system -- something that we have been in need of for some time now.
While there has been some progress on this front, that women still represent only a small fraction of the total police force, accounting for approximately 8%, does not align with Bangladesh’s desire for more gender parity. The fact that women in our police force have also long faced significant barriers to leadership roles has unquestionably contributed to the deteriorating quality of the police.
There is immense potential of women officers to better address crimes that disproportionately affect women and children such as domestic violence or sexual assault, as female officers are often more adept at handling sensitive cases where victims feel safer speaking to someone who can empathize with their experience.
To that end, further suggestions made by the PRC, to prioritize women-centric services such as establishing victim support centres, women support and investigation division, and police cyber support for women in 64 districts should also be heeded.
Bangladesh’s police have long been criticized for corruption and inefficiency. As such, a more diverse force, inclusive of women at all levels, could be the catalyst needed to bring about the necessary change within the institution, challenging existing patriarchal norms.
We can simply not afford to ignore this opportunity to finally bring about meaningful change and start fixing our police force.