The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Police Sunday launched a strategic plan that outlines its vision, mission, core values and future priorities of the service.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, launched the 'Strategic Plan for 2008-2010' to be implemented over three years.

"For the first time Bangladesh Police has a defining document that will outline our vision, mission, core values and priorities and will guide us into the future," Nur Mohammad said at a ceremony at Sonargaon Hotel.

N B K Tripura, ndc Additional IGP & National Project Director, Police Reform Programme, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Director General, RAB, Mohammad Javed Patwary, Additional IGP, CID, A.K.M. Mahfuzul Haque, Rector, Police Staff College and Baharul Alam, Additional IGP, SB, were present.

Development partners, representatives from the NGOs, former senior police officers, civil society members and eminent personalities were also present at the function.

"We have the vision of a Police Service that will work in partnership with the community and become a trusted partner rather than a feared tool of the State," Nur Mohammad said. The plan has been prepared keeping in mind the competing needs or demand of the country and the limited resources that may be available for the implementation of the plan.

The Strategic Plan 2008 - 2010 identifies five key strategic areas for fulfilling the vision of Bangladesh Police. The first strategy of Organizational Reform is the foundation for the implementation of other priorities as it deals with legal and organisation reform. The second strategic direction is Community Policing which will foster real partnerships with the community and develop operational priorities that will address community needs.

The capacity to train and develop Police personnel is critical to appropriate service delivery and Police personnel need to be prepared to face challenges. Women Police and Gender Policy have been identified as an important strategic direction to move the police into a modern policing service.

The importance of computerization is now the cornerstone of the provision of modern policing service and the Bangladesh Police wish to position themselves to take full advantage of any advances in technology.

"The proposed strategies are just the first step towards a modern service orientated police organisation that our community will be proud of. Our credibility depends on how we will implement these strategies," the IGP said.

He noted that Bangladesh Police have the vision of a Police Service that will work in partnership with the community and become a trusted partner rather than a feared tool of the State.

"We envision our role to be a professional, service orientated and people friendly department that is free from extraneous influences and remains accountable to the law and to the people," he said.

N B K Tripura ndc, said that the entire police service of the country will be involved in achieving the outcomes that the Strategic Plan envisages.

"The suggestions contained in the plan are our own; these are generated through in-house discussions held in different forums. We are confident that the ideas or thoughts contained in this document will improve and expand our services, make our service more efficient and effective and potentially open up the gateway to improve the image of Bangladesh Police," Tripura said.

The Strategic Plan envisages transformation and transition of Bangladesh Police from the colonial culture of 'ruling' to a contemporary culture of 'serving' the people. It also emphasises on proactive policing to replace reactive policing and brought a major cultural shift - from 'Force' to 'Service'.

The PRP has supported the development of the Strategic Plan (2008-2010) for Bangladesh Police.

In 2005, Bangladesh government, UNDP and the DFID launched the first phase of the PRP that aims at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Bangladesh Police by supporting key areas of access to justice; including investigations, police operations and prosecutions; human resource management and training; and strategic capacity and oversight.

The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bangladesh Police. The European Commission is also a major partner in the programme.

The overall purpose of the PRP is to develop a safer and more secure environment based on respect for human rights and equitable access to justice through police reform, transforming it from a colonial government order model to a public service, which is responsive to all of the Bangladesh population including the poor, vulnerable, women, and children.