PRC suggests amendment, replacement of 22 laws for police reforms

The Police Reform Commission (PRC) today submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus proposing amendment and replacement of 22 existing laws for making the “people’s friendly” the country’s main law enforcement agency.

“We have identified 22 laws which require amendment and replacement. We have said in details regarding our objections about the sections of the laws,” PRC chairman and former home secretary Safar Raz Hossain said while presenting the report to the chief adviser at his office here.

The chief adviser’s press wing issued audio-video footage of the PRC meeting with Professor Yunus when the commission chair said their report sought to streamline police’s arbitrary power especially for arresting people and grilling them in custody securing remand from courts.

The commission chief said the 1898 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) allows police to arrest anyone without any warrant under an authority granted to the agency through the sections 54 and 167 of the 127-year-old law.

The report suggested that police should be debarred from using such arbitrary authority through required amendments to make it more people-friendly.

The commission also suggested Bangladesh police could follow the UN model for its peacekeeping missions and the European nations where police cannot use excessive force for crowd control to avoid casualties.

The PRC also suggested measures for simplifying the police verification process for public job seekers by amending the SB Manual of 1928.

It has recommended introduction of a separate desk for women in every police station where at least one female sub inspector, assistant sub inspector and appropriate number of female constables would be dedicated to handle issues round the clock.

Apart from the PRC, the Election Reform Commission and the Anti-Corruption Reform Commission submitted their reports to Professor Yunus today. (BSS)