Bangladesh Police

The Bangladesh Police is the main law enforcement agency of Bangladesh. It is administered by the central interior ministry of the Government of Bangladesh. As of 2006, the strength of the police is 117,000.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29]

History

The Bangladesh Police inherits its organisation from the police of British India - the Police Act of 1861 still defines the basic structure and functions - and the police of Pakistan, of which it was a part until independence in 1971.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29] During the Pakistan period, the police was involved in containing political agitations and its composition included non-Bengali ethnic groups from other parts of Pakistan. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, many Bengali police officials defected to join the ranks of the Mukti Bahini guerrillas who sought the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29] In the post-independence period, Bangladesh police was reorganised and increased in strength.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29] The Bangladesh police also contributes to U.N. peace-keeping missions in the Ivory Coast, Sudan, Liberia, Kosovo and others.cite web|title=U.N. mission - Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/cmission.php?category=39|accessdate=2008-09-29] cite web|title=U.N. mission - Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/mdetail.php?cm_id=15|accessdate=2008-09-30] cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29]

Organisation

Outside the Dhaka capital region and other major cities, police is organised at the district and taluka levels. Raised in 1976, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police is charged with maintaining security and order in the national capital and largest city. Twelve female police officials were recruited for the Bangladesh Police Special Branch in 1974 and inducted in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police in 1978.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29] cite web|title=Women in the Police|url=http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/02/21/news0230.htm
publisher=The New Nation|accessdate=2008-09-29] In 2004, Rapid Action Battalions were raised comprising of personnel of the Military of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Rifles and the Bangladesh Ansars.cite web|title=History of the Bangladesh Police|url=http://www.police.gov.bd/index5.php?category=18|accessdate=2008-09-29] The Bangladesh Police Special Branch was established to assist in maintaining national security and also performs the functions of intelligence-gathering and counterintelligence. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ]

In 2008, Bangladesh police established the Special Women Police Contingent (SWPC) to fight prostitution, drug smuggling and human trafficking.cite web|title=Women police intelligence unit in Bangladesh|url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/08/30/0808301357_women-only_police_intelligence_unit_raised_in_bangladesh.html|publisher=Indiainfo.com|accessdate=2008-09-29] Composing entirely of female officers, the SWPC would be used to gather intelligence on criminal activities and specifically track down female criminals.cite web|title=Women police intelligence unit in Bangladesh|url=http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/08/30/0808301357_women-only_police_intelligence_unit_raised_in_bangladesh.html|publisher=Indiainfo.com|accessdate=2008-09-29]

Training institutions

The government maintains police training schools in Noakhali, Khulna, Rangpur and Tangail. The Police Academy, established in 1912 in Sardah and remains the central training institution. The Detective Training School was established in 1962 A major police staff college was established in 2000 in Dhaka.cite web|title=Police Staff College|url=http://www.psc.gov.bd/about.php|accessdate=2008-09-29] A training school for the Special Branch is also maintained.

References