As many as 87% of respondents in a survey expressed support for introducing an "emergency call service" to verify the identity of law enforcement personnel conducting drives, arrests, or searches without court warrants.
The survey, conducted by the Police Reform Commission (PRC), highlighted concerns about the practices of law enforcement agencies, which often conduct operations to apprehend criminals, suspects, or seize contraband.
However, in cases where officers refuse to disclose their identity, respondents emphasized the need for a verification system to ensure transparency and accountability.
Titled “What Kind of Police Do We Want” (Kemon Police Chai), the survey recommended incorporating public feedback into the police reform process.
The PRC said that there is an increasing trend of law enforcement personnel, both in uniform and plain clothes, conducting late-night house searches without warrants or formal detention orders.
These practices have been identified as contributing factors to incidents of enforced disappearances.
To address these issues, 77.4% of respondents proposed equipping law enforcement officers with GPS tracking systems and video recording devices during operations.
Furthermore, 75% suggested that magistrates, local government representatives, or prominent community members should be present during house searches conducted at night.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Baharul Alam welcomed the findings of the PRC survey, saying that implementing these recommendations would enhance police accountability and foster a more people-friendly approach.
Respondents stressed the importance of a law-abiding police force, free from corruption and political influence, to ensure equal justice for all citizens.
The survey also revealed that 89.5% of respondents called for an end to the use of police for political purposes, while 77.9% demanded measures to prevent corruption arising from the misuse of police power.
Additionally, 74.9% urged greater accountability for human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
The release further said that a wide cross-section of citizens provided thoughtful and diverse suggestions in response to the commission’s queries, contributing to the vision of a modern and efficient police force.
The survey findings are available on the PRC’s official website (www.prc.mhapsd.gov.bd), as said in a press release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
