Bangladesh Dialogues on Police and Criminal Justice

Experts in Dialogue: Reimagining Police and Criminal Justice Institutions in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 25–26 June 2025 – Engaging in dialogue and exchanging perspectives and lessons learned are proving essential to driving forward transformative processes in the criminal justice sector in Bangladesh.

In line with this approach, UNODC provided a platform for dialogue in support of nationally led efforts to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of Bangladesh’s police and criminal justice institutions, as identified by the reform commissions established by the interim Government and the findings of a fact-finding mission by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In partnership with the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), UNODC convened two high-level dialogues in Dhaka on 25 and 26 June 2025, focusing respectively on Police Modernization and Professionalization and Accessible and Effective Criminal Justice Systems. These forums served to present international standards, share promising practices, and facilitate dialogue among national and international experts and participants.

Dialogue on Police Modernization and Professionalization

“Working together across institutions, sectors, and communities to build a police force that our people can trust”.

The opening session featured remarks by the Chief Guest, Mr. Baharul Alam, BPM, Honorable Inspector General of Police, who highlighted the commitment of the Bangladesh Police to aligning police practices with local contexts and international standards.

As regards to the use of force he highlighted that “we are adopting the UN standards of use of force, guided by the principles of necessity, proportionality, legality, and accountability. Each stage, from presence to persuasion, from self-control to measured force, is now carefully calibrated with the objective of protecting, not provoking,” he stated.

Mr. Alam reaffirmed his demand for legal reform, particularly through the establishment of an independent police service commission to oversee the integrity and fairness in policing. He noted that the current Police Act, dating back to 1861, which prioritizes control over safeguarding human rights or crime prevention, must be replaced with rights-based policing, aligned with contemporary expectations and democratic principles.

“At the core of all reforms lies the human being. The police officer must be ethically grounded, emotionally intelligent, and socially responsible. Human rights sensitization must be central to training, policies, and daily actions.”

He emphasized that reform is a process that requires vision, courage, collaboration, and continuity: “We will work together across institutions, sectors, and communities to build a police force that our people can trust, our constitution demands, and our future deserves.”

Three technical roundtables followed, focusing on: police professionalization, independence, and community engagement; promoting a human rights-based approach to the use of force and firearms and advancing evidence-based interviewing practices; and strengthening accountability and oversight mechanisms and enhancing institutional integrity.

Ms. Anna Giudice, Access to Justice Team Leader at UNODC, emphasized that: “Any responses in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in policing, need to be tailor-made, context specific, nationally owned solutions.”

Reflecting on the way forward for policing in Bangladesh, Mr. SM Ruhul Amin, Former Additional Inspector General of Police, emphasized the practical benefits of aligning police practice with human rights principles: “(…) human rights-based policing can significantly improve not only the way communities experience policing, but also the overall effectiveness of police work, from crime prevention to investigative responses.”
From the Peer-to-Peer Diversity Network of the National Police of the Netherlands, Mr. Rogier Donk, stressed that effective policing requires certain preconditions, including shared interest and reciprocity between police and communities, the initiation of dialogue and the establishment of trust.

Discussions also featured experts from Canada, Nigeria, Norway, the United Kingdom, UNODC, and UNDP, and resulted in the exchange of key lessons and comparative insights on effective, rights-based policing practices.

Dialogue on Accessible and Effective Criminal Justice Systems

"Placing people at the center of justice reform"

The second dialogue provided a platform to exchange best practices and strategies for improving access to legal aid and strengthening prosecution, including through enhanced cooperation with the police.

Dr. Asif Nazrul, Honorable Adviser on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the government’s intent to implement urgent action. “Most of the immediately implementable reforms concern the justice and police sectors,” he stated. “We are starting work on three key priorities: ensuring speedy and fair trials, addressing case backlog, and strengthening accountability.”

Dr. Nazrul highlighted new measures under development, including:

Provisions to guarantee the presence of lawyers before and after interrogations.
Expanded legal aid services, with stronger operative presence in each district.
A new law on enforced disappearance, aligned with the international human rights framework.
The establishment of new timelines for the urgent processing of cases that were politically motivated and other efforts to reduce case backlogs and overcrowding in detention institutions.

He emphasized the government’s focus on participatory reform, noting that consultations, research, and stakeholder feedback are central to this process.

“We are doing these reforms not only for the people—we are doing them with the people,” he said. “With continued support from partners like UNODC and BIISS, I am confident we can build a justice system that is fast, fair, accountable, and efficient.”

Three technical roundtables were convened on strengthening access to legal aid services for those detained, arrested or imprisoned, and for victims and witnesses; Supporting the establishment of an impartial, professional and accountable public prosecution service and; Strengthening police–prosecution cooperation for more efficient, human rights-based investigations. Discussions included from experts from Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, UNDP, UNODC.

Addressing challenges in the criminal justice system, Barrister Sara Hossain, Executive Director of BLAST, stressed that “whatever happens with the criminal procedure code, unless we have a change in our practice and our culture, we won't really see significant changes”, particularly in relation to access to timely and quality legal aid, rising numbers of pre-trial detainees, and insufficient attention to individual circumstances during adjudication.
On building a professional prosecution service, Ms. Anna Giudice referred that prosecution services have an important role to play in addressing structural and penal policy challenges, including prison overcrowding, excessive reliance on pretrial detention, and limited access to legal aid. Within the scope of national legislation, they can request the implementation of diversion measures, promote alternatives to imprisonment, and support the implementation of restorative justice approaches. Dr. Aminul Islam, Deputy Solicitor, Law and Justice Division, emphasized that a cultural shift towards prosecutorial discretion will require motivation, professional training, and a strong mindset among prosecutors.
On enhancing police–prosecution cooperation, Mr. Patrick Stevens, representative of the International Association of Prosecutors, emphasized that effective and efficient criminal justice systems rely on strong collaboration across institutions, grounded in mutual trust among criminal justice actors. He underscored that openness and transparency are essential to building and sustaining this trust.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Experts in Dialogue: Reimagining Police and Criminal Justice Institutions in Bangladesh

Dialogue on Police Modernization and Professionalization

“At the core of all reforms lies the human being. The police officer must be ethically grounded, emotionally intelligent, and socially responsible. Human rights sensitization must be central to training, policies, and daily actions.”

Dialogue on Accessible and Effective Criminal Justice Systems

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