Police return to Blue-Khaki uniform

Bangladesh Police introduced another new uniform, with members beginning duty in dark blue or light olive shirts paired with khaki pants from Wednesday (July 1).

The new uniform was seen during the inauguration of the newly built Barkau Police Camp in the Purbachal New City Project, where Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir wore a dark blue shirt with khaki pants. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed wore a light olive shirt with khaki pants.

Niaz, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP Media and Public Relations Department, said the rollout began on Wednesday and the uniforms will be distributed to police personnel across the country in phases.

The latest change follows earlier police reform discussions after the political transition on August 5, 2024. In November 2024, the police adopted iron-gray shirts and coffee-brown gray trousers. However, after receiving mixed feedback from officers in the field, the government decided to revise the uniform again.

A Police Headquarters notification issued on June 18 introduced the new design and colour scheme.

Under the new policy, district police and several other units will wear khaki trousers made from TC twill fabric and dark blue shirts made from TC plain fabric. The shirts will feature four pockets and seven front buttons.

For metropolitan police, the shirt colour will be light olive with khaki trousers.

Female police members may choose to wear saris. District police and other units will use dark blue saris with dark blue blouses, while metropolitan police members will wear dark blue saris with light olive blouses. They may also wear head coverings if they choose.

The notification retains the practice of half-sleeved shirts during summer and full-sleeved shirts in winter. Pregnant female police personnel may wear regular clothing with approval from the head of their unit. Female traffic police members may wear full-sleeved shirts or blouses throughout the year.

The colours of jerseys, cardigans, pullovers and jackets have also been updated to match the revised shirts. Dark blue outerwear will replace the previously introduced iron-gray versions.

The notification also outlines uniform specifications for police units other than District Police, APBN, SPBN, SB, CID and RAB.