Bangladesh has one police officer for every 868 people, well below the manpower needed to maintain law and order, Police Headquarters reported. To ease the shortage, the government is working to add 24,677 new posts across different ranks and units.
The figures were presented at the fifth meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the home ministry at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, chaired by committee Chairman Zainul Abedin.
Bangladesh has a population of 180.6 million and needs an estimated 354,123 police personnel, leaving a shortfall of 146,185 against 207,938 sanctioned police posts. Including non-police positions, the total number of approved posts stands at 218,747.
Police Headquarters said the global peacetime benchmark is 400 people per police officer. The corresponding ratios are 1:297 in Malaysia and 1:313 in Thailand.
Proposal for 24,677 new posts under process
To address the manpower shortage, proposals for 10,000 constable and 4,000 sub-inspector posts are being processed by the home ministry for submission to a secretary-level committee.
Another 400 sergeant and 450 assistant superintendent of police (ASP) posts are awaiting approval from the Ministry of Public Administration.
A further 9,943 posts of various ranks are proposed for police stations, investigation centres, outposts, camps and other units. The overall proposal to create 24,677 posts under the revenue budget is being processed by the home ministry, the Ministry of Public Administration and the Finance Division.
Authorities have also initiated plans to establish 107 new police stations, outposts and investigation centres across the country.
Police recover 557 illegal firearms in three months
Police recovered 557 illegal firearms, 672 locally made weapons, 4,576 rounds of ammunition and 455 cartridges nationwide between July and September, according to Police Headquarters.
Firearms recoveries rose from 120 in July to 186 in August and 251 in September. Police also recovered 163 locally made weapons in July, 255 in August and 254 in September. They filed 455 cases and arrested 694 people in connection with the recoveries.
On 29 August, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said a special unit had been formed with support from intelligence agencies to recover illegal firearms and intensify enforcement drives.
During special operations, police arrested 9,073 people accused of planning or contributing to instability, 30,187 suspected smugglers and drug traders, 3,445 people accused of snatching, robbery and banditry, 40 alleged juvenile gang members and 797 suspected extortionists and criminals.
Police also arrested 222 people in 194 cases under the Speedy Trial Act, 3,701 in 407 cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act and 388 in 399 cases under the Cyber Security Act.
They further arrested 1,390 people in 972 cases under the Special Powers Act, 76 in 38 online gambling cases and 263 in 337 cases under the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Act.
Disciplinary action against police officials
The report presented to the parliamentary committee also detailed disciplinary measures against police officials over incidents linked to the July 2024 uprising.
A total of 147 officials of ASP rank and above have been compulsorily retired in the public interest. Of 13 officials of ASP rank and above linked to cases covered by International Crimes Tribunal verdicts, five have been dismissed, while departmental proceedings against the remaining eight are ongoing.
Another 57 officials of ASP rank and above were suspended for allegedly remaining absent from their workplaces or going into hiding around 5 August 2024. Of them, 28 have been dismissed, and one compulsorily retired.
A further 29 officials arrested in criminal, complaint-register (CR) and International Crimes Tribunal cases linked to the uprising were suspended from their dates of arrest. Two deputy inspector general-rank officials among them have been compulsorily retired.
Five inspectors have been dismissed or removed from service, while proceedings against another 30 are ongoing. Since the uprising, 73 inspectors have been compulsorily retired.
Separately, departmental cases were filed against 62 Bangladesh Civil Service (Police) cadre officials over allegations of fleeing after 5 August 2024. Thirty-one have been dismissed, while proceedings against the remaining 31 are ongoing.