Bangladesh Police expands women-friendly policing initiatives nationwide.
Bangladesh Police has taken a series of initiatives to strengthen
women-friendly policing, including expanding the deployment of female personnel, upgrading
service desks for women, children and elderly people and establishing daycare facilities for
children of female police personnel.
"The initiatives are part of ongoing police reform efforts to make law enforcement more
responsive to gender-based violence, online violence, hate and bullying, "Additional Inspector
General of police Gazi Jashim Uddin told BSS.
The initiatives come as Bangladesh Police continues to expand women's participation in law
enforcement and gender-responsive policing, he added.
As part of efforts to support female police personnel in the eight divisional cities, steps have
been taken to establish daycare centres for their children, according to a Home Ministry report
on the BNP government's first 180 days in office.
A daycare centre is currently being established in Uttara under the supervision of the 5 Armed
Police Battalion.
Police have also moved to transform the service desks for women, children and elderly people at
the 64 district Sadar police stations into model facilities through specialised training and
modern equipment.
Female police officers have already been deployed in required numbers in different ranges and
metropolitan units, while further deployment is continuing according to the needs of individual
units.
Under the UNFPA-funded Prevention and Response for Gender Based Violence Against Women and Girls
(PrevIL) project, women and child help desks have been established at 92 police stations in 10
districts, including Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Noakhali, Patuakhali,
Barguna, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Sirajganj and Bagerhat.
The project has also provided initial awareness and training on the rights and legal assistance
of women, children and elderly people at the concerned police stations.
For the remaining 54 district Sadar police stations, authorities have proposed a new project to
provide training and modern equipment and turn their women, children and elderly service desks
into model facilities.
Bangladesh Police currently has 17,970 female personnel, accounting for 9.07 percent of its
total strength, with women serving across ranks up to positions equivalent to Additional
Inspector General of Police.
The Additional IGP said women police officers have demonstrated their capabilities at every
level through their hard work, dedication, professionalism and competence.
"Women have successfully carried out the responsibilities entrusted to them at every level, from
constable to Additional IG. This is a very positive development. They are in no way behind in
terms of performance," he said.
He said female personnel play a pivotal role in addressing labour unrest, particularly in the
garment sector where the majority of workers are women.
"It would be difficult to deal with labour unrest effectively in the industrial sector without
the contribution of women police personnel," he added.
A female sub-inspector working in a metropolitan police unit said women officers are capable of
leading major operational assignments, but opportunities in detective work, crime investigation
and operational leadership should expand alongside their responsibilities.
Bangladesh Police first recruited women in 1974. Since then, women have gradually moved from
largely limited and administrative responsibilities to serving across the force, including as
constables, ASIs, SIs, inspectors, ASPs, additional SPs, SPs, DIGs, additional DIGs and officers
serving in positions equivalent to Additional Inspector General.
Female personnel are now deployed in metropolitan and district police units, Armed Police
Battalion, Special Branch, CID, PBI, Tourist Police, Highway Police, River Police, Police
Headquarters and UN peacekeeping missions.
The Bangladesh Police Women Network (BPWN), established in 2008, has become a key platform for
promoting women's professional development.
Its Strategic Plan (2024-2027) focuses on increasing women's representation, promoting women in
leadership and decision-making, enhancing professional and investigative skills, ensuring safe
and inclusive workplaces and strengthening gender-responsive policing.
As Bangladesh Police implements the BPWN Strategic Plan through 2027, authorities are focusing
not only on increasing women's participation but also on expanding their leadership,
investigative and operational roles across the force.
