'I often hear, 'Is he our man?',' IGP says seeking to free police from political, executive influence

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has called for bringing the Bangladesh Police out of the influence of political and executive authorities, saying the force should be allowed to operate independently in accordance with the law.

Sharing his experiences at the force, Baharul Alam said his one-year tenure since November last year had not been pleasant as he began amid strong adversities.

"I often hear, 'Is he our man?' – such remarks I have to face frequently," he said on Saturday ( 1 November) at a roundtable titled "Reforming Bangladesh Police: Challenges and the Way Forward" held at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. 

The event was jointly organised by Prothom Alo and the Welfare Association of Retired Police Officers.

Acknowledging that political governments are the rightful guardians of the state, Baharul Alam questioned why the police have not yet earned their trust.

"They [the political government] are our guardians, I believe. But why can't I reach that position of trust? Out of fear, we [the police] say – make us free from political and executive influence and place us under an independent body. Why am I not getting that confidence that they will do the right thing?" he asked.

Referring to the 2024 July Uprising, the IGP said police officers had to abandon their stations because of the unprecedented level of public anger, something not seen in the force's 150-year history.

He further noted that even during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, police officers did not have to flee.

"There was such a major war, yet we didn't have to run away. Why did we have to do so in July-August this time? What level of resentment had built up among the people over how we were used in the past 15 years? I think we need some self-reflection here," he said.

Expressing hope that future political parties would help the police overcome this situation, Baharul Alam called for the force to be granted operational independence as per legal provisions.

"When it comes to investigations or arrests, no instructions should come to me," he said, reiterating the need for the government to reduce its control over the police.