Police steps up training on use of force, human rights

Bangladesh Police is stepping up in-service training on the use of force, human rights, professional ethics and integrity as part of a broader effort to make policing more service-oriented, accountable and responsive while reducing the risk of excessive or disproportionate use of force.

The initiative comes amid long standing human rights concerns over the use of force by law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, particularly during political protests and public movements.

Under a government plan to strengthen officers' understanding of minimum-force principles in line with United Nations standards, 30 in-service training centres were targeted to conduct five-day training programmes for 900 police personnel, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

So far, 818 police personnel have completed the use-of-force training, representing 90.89 percent of the target, the ministry said.

"The training focuses on principles governing the use of force in day-to-day policing and is intended to help officers understand when and how force should be used while carrying out their duties," Additional Inspector General of Police Gazi Jashim Uddin told BSS.

Home Ministry authorities said the training had been delivered to 818 personnel through different sessions, aiming to strengthen officers' ability to make lawful, proportionate and professional decisions during routine policing as well as potentially high-risk situations.

The emphasis on minimum force reflects a wider effort to ensure that police operations are guided not only by operational requirements but also by the principles of necessity, proportionality, accountability and respect for human rights.

Despite substantial progress, the implementation update identified shortages of manpower and inadequate training funds as major obstacles to completing the programme within the planned timeframe.

Police officials have recommended increasing manpower and providing additional budgetary allocations to sustain and expand the training initiative. They said adequate resources would be essential for reaching more personnel and ensuring that the programme continues regularly rather than remaining limited to periodic training sessions.

The resource constraints are particularly significant as police personnel require continuous professional development to keep pace with changing operational demands, public expectations and evolving standards of policing.

Officials believe that strengthening institutional capacity, expanding access to training and ensuring sufficient funding could help embed the principles taught during the courses into everyday police work.

The use-of-force initiative is also being supported by a separate training programme focusing on human rights, professional ethics and integrity.

Under that programme, 804 police personnel have so far received training, reflecting a parallel effort to strengthen professional standards within the force.

The broader training agenda seeks to encourage officers to view policing not simply as an enforcement function but as a public service requiring professionalism, restraint, impartiality and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.

Such training is particularly important in situations where officers must balance public safety, law enforcement responsibilities and individual rights while making decisions under pressure.

According to the implementation plan, two additional five-day training batches were scheduled for 2026, with 1,240 participants in each batch.

The planned sessions involve personnel from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Police Training Academy and 30 in-service training centres.

The expansion of the programme indicates an effort to move beyond the initial training targets and provide broader coverage among police personnel.

Officials have stressed that regular refresher training will be important to ensure that the principles of lawful and proportionate use of force remain part of officers' professional practice.

The use-of-force training is taking place alongside several other police reform and capacity-building initiatives designed to make law enforcement more responsive to citizens, particularly vulnerable groups.

These include specialised training for personnel working at service desks dealing with women, children and elderly people. Such initiatives are intended to improve the way officers receive complaints, communicate with victims and respond to people who may require additional protection or assistance.

The focus on vulnerable groups also reflects a broader shift towards more citizen-centred policing, in which effective law enforcement is expected to be accompanied by sensitivity, accessibility and respect for human dignity.

Police officials have identified adequate funding, sufficient manpower and sustained institutional support as critical to maintaining the momentum of these initiatives.

The training drive, therefore, represents more than an effort to improve operational capacity. It is also part of a broader attempt to strengthen professional conduct and reinforce human rights principles in everyday policing.

By improving officers' understanding of when force is justified, how much force may be necessary and what safeguards should guide its use, authorities hope to promote greater consistency and accountability in police operations.

The initiative also places renewed emphasis on the principle that the use of force should remain a measure of necessity rather than a routine policing response. Proper training can help officers assess situations more carefully, use de-escalation where possible and apply force only when required by the circumstances.

The renewed focus on use-of-force training comes against the backdrop of allegations of excessive force by law enforcement agencies during the July-August 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh.

During the movement, security forces were accused of using disproportionate force, including live ammunition, against protesters. A fact-finding report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed between July 1 and August 15, 2024, with many reportedly shot by security forces.

The report documented allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and other human rights violations.

These events highlighted concerns about the protection of fundamental rights, particularly the right to life, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

While maintaining public order is a legitimate responsibility of law enforcement agencies, any use of force must be necessary, proportionate and consistent with international human rights standards.