DHAKA, Dec 04, 2024 (BSS) – Around 74.5 percent respondents in a survey want legal action against police in case of submitting charge sheet against deceased and innocent people.

The suggestion came from the public survey on ‘what kind of police do we want (kemon police chai)’ released on Tuesday. The Police Reform Commission (PRC) conducted the survey in which 24,442 individuals from different professions took part.

The participants have also given four suggestions to stop such culture that include examining the legal aspect of filing any case against a large section of specific people for any organized crimes by officer-in-charge of the respective police station.

They also suggested submitting case diary (CD) before the court by the investigation officer (IO) in a case for implicating names of the individuals who were not accused in the case earlier.

Procedure of taking legal actions against the investigation officers can be introduced if it is proved that the charge sheet is given against deceased individuals or innocent people, they suggested.

They have also suggested lodging complaints against respective metropolitan police commissioners or police supers if money is taken illegally by threatening people to implicate in criminal cases.

Ninety five percent respondents have suggested amending the existing procedure of filing cases to stop the culture of repressing political opponents by lodging false cases, which got a huge surge during the past Awami League regime.  

The culture of suppressing the political opponents by filing false and fabricated cases was introduced by the immediate past authoritarian regime.

In replying to a question, ‘do you want the amendment to the respective section of the Code Criminal Procedure, 1898 to end the misuse of the law in filing cases,’ 95 percent people responded ‘yes’.

Taking part in the public survey, 81.9 percent people have opined to take effective measures to stop exchanging of money by threatening people for implicating them in false cases.

The PRC has also recommended formation of a permanent investigation commission to deal with the allegations of human rights (HR) violations by the police force as 80 percent people came up with such suggestion.

The public survey, titled ‘What kind of police do we want (kemon police chai)’, was carried out in the wake of recent criticism in Bangladesh and around the world about the violent role of some police personnel in suppressing the anti-discrimination student movement.

To that end, the interim government formed the 'Police Reform Commission' to reform the police force.

In replying to a question on how the allegations of human rights violation and misusing of power by police should be investigated, 60 percent of 24,442 the people taking part in the survey, recommended forming a complete investigation commission to look after the matter.

While 20 percent of them have suggested formation of a permanent investigation commission led by a retired justice of the High Court Division and 20 percent wanted to investigate the allegation by the National Human Rights Commission by amending the relevant law of 2009.

The country needs a law-abiding, corruption and political influence free independent police to maintain law and order equally for the people irrespective of their identity, the survey said.    

“Some 89.5 percent people opined to stop use police force for political purposes and 77.9 percent want police not to indulge in corruption by misusing power,” it also said.

Apart from these, 74.9 percent opined to bring police under accountability for violations of rights that include enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings.

The survey is now available on the website of the Police Reform Commission (www.prc.mhapsd.gov.bd), said a press release of the home ministry.

The Police Reform Commission has received recommendations from 24,442 individuals of different sections following its request to submit their opinions by November 15, 2024.

However, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday called for submitting list of politically motivated harassment cases filed during the ousted Awami League government from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024.

“Solicitor wing of the Law and Justice Division sent letters to public prosecutors and metropolitan public prosecutors across the country to this end on December 2,” law ministry spokesperson Dr Md Rezaul Karim told BSS.

The ministry in the letters asked the public prosecutors to send the list to the address of Solicitor, Solicitor Wing, Law and Justice Division, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, Supreme Court Premises, or by email on [email protected].