ABSTRACT
In recent years, the Bangladesh National Police have been embroiled in serious controversy, with numerous declarations against them by human rights groups, civil society, and the media regarding a spate of ongoing police torture and other abuses. Unrest originating from political violence between the three main governmental parties—the Bangladesh Awami League, the Bangladesh National Party, and the Jamaat-e-Islam—is complicated by an increase in attacks from extremist groups, as well as shrinking space for true public dissidence. This chapter explores why attempts at police reform have not taken more permanent root in Bangladesh, with a critical eye to whether the reform efforts adequately consider the social, political, and historical forces at play within the country. As a post-colonial nation-state, Bangladesh continues to struggle with internal cohesion and political stability, oftentimes applying outdated policies that highlight differences and promote exclusion. Highlighting the country’s recent history and leveraging extensive field experience with police in Bangladesh, this chapter recasts the police problem not as one of insufficient program development, but rather as one related to a larger post-colonial political crisis. To address this, current reform efforts must directly confront the greater issues with political legitimacy and its impact on police-citizen relations in order to be more lasting and effective. The chapter provides a framework for understanding citizen security in Bangladesh, starting with a concrete assessment of the socio-political and historical context (including legitimacy and community levels of collective efficacy) as a primary consideration for integrating more successful community policing.
