Proposal placed before political parties to form independent police commission

The National Consensus Commission has proposed the political parties to form an independent police commission, aiming to ensure professionalism and accountability within the Bangladesh Police.

According to the draft, the commission will work to ensure that the police, as a disciplined force, carry out their duties lawfully and efficiently. It will also be tasked with addressing complaints from both police personnel and citizens.

The proposal was placed this morning during on the 19th day of the second phase of talks with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

As per the proposal, the Bangladesh Police Commission (referred to as "the Commission") will be chaired by a retired Appellate Division judge under the age of 72. The member secretary will be a retired police officer, not below the rank of additional inspector general, and under the age of 62.

The commission will comprise several members, including representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties. These include one representative each from the Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker of the National Parliament, and the Deputy Speaker (who must be from the opposition). The commission will also include a Supreme Court lawyer enrolled in the High Court Division with at least 15 years of legal experience, a human rights activist with 10 years of practical experience, and another retired police officer not below the rank of Additional IGP.

The draft also mentions that at least two of the commission members must be women. For selecting members under certain categories, a selection committee will be formed comprising the home minister, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, and a High Court judge with no less than 10 years of judicial experience.

The chairperson and member secretary will be full-time members, while the remaining seven members will serve on a voluntary basis. However, they will be eligible to receive honorarium or allowances for attending commission meetings and fulfilling other official responsibilities, as per legal provisions.

Responsibilities, authority, accountability, resignation rights, and procedures for removal of the chairperson, member secretary, and other members will be determined by an Act of Parliament. The commission's policy and executive decisions will require approval by a majority of its members, according to the proposal.