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with the home adviser or a minister as its chair, a retired justice of the appellate division as the vice-chair and the IGP as the member secretary.

A retired police officer not below the rank of an additional IGP and a rights activist would be in the commission too.

There will be four temporary members including a representative each from the leader of the parliament, the leader of the opposition, the speaker and deputy speaker, according to the PHQ proposal.

If the parliament is not in place, then the president will form a seven-member interim police commission in consultation with the head of the government.

A long discussion had taken place at the advisory council meeting regarding police commissions as part of police reforms, said Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, at a media briefing yesterday.

Two key issues have emerged to improve the police investigation process and ensure accountability within the force, he said.

One of the focal points is the creation of an Independent Investigation Service within the police, which will allow investigations to be conducted free from any political or external pressure.

“It is critical that investigations within the police force be independent, ensuring no outside pressures, whether political or otherwise, interfere with the process. This new service will be implemented swiftly to strengthen the integrity of our law enforcement system.”

The second key development is the establishment of an Internal Complaints Commission.

This commission will provide a transparent platform for addressing complaints regarding police conduct, ensuring accountability within the force, he said.

Both the initiatives will be managed by the law ministry in collaboration with Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Home Affairs Khoda Baksh Chowdhury.

The advisers will work together to expedite the implementation of the reforms.

While the commissions will be executed under the purview of the law ministry, the home ministry will oversee the practical aspects of their implementation, Shafiqul added.

However, there have been different proposals regarding the composition of the commissions.

The consensus commission suggested making a nine-member police commission with a retired justice of the appellate division as the chair and a retired police officer (not below the rank of additional IGP) as member secretary, according to home ministry officials informed with the proceedings.

However, the police reform commission had suggested an 11-member police commission with a retired justice of the appellate division or a retired IGP as chair and serving IGP as the member secretary.

On January 15, the Police Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus recommending the formation of a neutral and independent police commission.

It also suggested seeking expert opinions on whether the commission should be a statutory or constitutional body.

On March 13, the cabinet division forwarded the recommendations to the home ministry requesting an action plan.

This is not the first time that steps have been taken to prepare an independent police commission.

Back in 2007, the caretaker government attempted to establish an independent police commission, which did not materialise.

The 2007 proposal recommended an 11-member commission with home minister or adviser as its chairman and the IGP as the member secretary.

The then-government formed the Bangladesh Police Act Drafting Committee, which prepared a draft ordinance aimed at freeing the police from political influence, ensuring accountability and maintaining transparency in recruitment and promotions.

The draft proposed the formation of both an independent police commission and a complaints commission to replace the colonial-era Police Act of 1861.

However, the ordinance was never implemented due to strong resistance from bureaucratic and vested interest groups, according to individuals involved in the initiative.

“An independent police commission is vital to remove political and bureaucratic control over the force -- there is no alternative to this,” said Towhidul Haque, associate professor at Dhaka University’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research.

A strong commission is required in Bangladesh similar to those in the UK, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, said a senior police official requesting anonymity.

“We wanted an independent police commission, but proposing separate commissions for the force could create obstacles in the process, and this step may not come to fruition,” he added.