IGP: Police Await Commission to Oversee Law Enforcement Regulation

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated today that the country’s primary law enforcement agency is still awaiting the establishment of an independent commission to oversee its regulation.

“The police are still waiting for the formation of a ‘Separate Police Commission,’ which was our key recommendation. We remain hopeful that it will be constituted soon,” Alam said at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy.

He emphasized that the police have communicated their request to the interim government, expressing their desire to operate independently, free from external pressures. “We hope our demand will be addressed,” he added.

The IGP noted that police reform has been a widely discussed issue since August 5, 2024, with conversations taking place at various levels of governance. These discussions have particularly focused on concerns regarding the excessive use of police force.

He further mentioned that while a Police Reform Commission had been established earlier to address these concerns, the matter seems to have lost priority, overshadowed by other ongoing reform initiatives.

When asked about the current status of police reforms and their proposals, Alam expressed optimism, citing the formation of the Police Reform Commission as a positive step. “We were hopeful that they would provide valuable recommendations for the police, and we have also submitted our own suggestions,” he said.

In addition to advocating for the commission's creation, the police have also called for a certain level of operational autonomy to ensure their functions remain free from undue influence.

The press conference was attended by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Media at Police Headquarters Enamul Haque Sagor, and Police Public Relations Officer AKM Kamrul Ahsan.