Police morale low, corruption still rife

The government admits police morale remains badly damaged more than a year after nationwide attacks on stations left the force demoralised and partially paralysed. Yet even in this weakened state, long-standing corruption within police ranks continues largely undisturbed, with fresh data showing more than a thousand complaints filed against officers in the past 16 months.

Following the events of 5 August last year and the fall of the Awami League government, police stations across the country were looted and officers assaulted.

For several days, the country functioned without any police presence, prompting the deployment of the armed forces to protect citizens and property.

Although policing has gradually resumed, officials concede the force has still not returned to normal operations.

A persistent pattern of bribery

According to Police Headquarters, 1,328 corruption complaints have been lodged nationwide over the past year and a half, leading to disciplinary action against 178 officers.

Corruption within the Bangladesh Police is far from new, but the latest figures suggest that, despite repeated pledges and limited reform efforts, the government has failed to dismantle entrenched networks of bribery and malpractice.

Independent surveys echo the severity of the problem.

A Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics study found that nearly 62% of people seeking police services had to pay bribes.

Transparency International Bangladesh reported even higher exposure, with 74.5% of service-seekers encountering corruption and 58% paying bribes. These patterns, analysts say, have contributed to a continuing erosion of public trust.

Experts argue that corruption is no longer confined to isolated misconduct.

It has become institutional, encompassing recruitment and transfer trades, case manipulation, collusion with criminals, extortion during remand interrogations, and routine roadside bribery.

The Police Reform Commission has identified at least nine distinct forms of corruption, but meaningful punishment remains rare.

Highway extortion and urban ‘rent’

Highway extortion is among the most visible manifestations of corruption. In the transport sector, money is often collected through printed slips or receipts.

Informal urban commerce, especially street vending, also remains a lucrative source of illicit income.

In Dhaka and Chattogram, police are accused of collecting daily payments from illegal makeshift stalls on pavements. The Bangladesh Hawkers Federation estimates this annual extortion at nearly Tk3,000 crore.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently criticised the situation, claiming, “Nothing has changed in the police! A businessperson who previously paid one lakh taka in bribes is now forced to pay five lakh. That’s the truth, that’s the reality. The police haven’t changed; they’re harassing people even more. One moment they say go to this official, another moment they say go to court – this is how they avoid responsibility.”

Structural weaknesses and flawed oversight

Analysts cite inadequate budgets, limited oversight and political interference as major drivers of corruption.

In many stations, state-allocated funds are insufficient, leading officers to cover operational costs themselves and later recover the money through bribery.

The absence of transparent audits and weak accountability mechanisms also help corruption flourish. The government has introduced several initiatives – digital general diary filing, online complaint systems, posted fee charts and commitments to impartial investigations – but many remain largely symbolic.

Despite multiple reform announcements by the Ministry of Home Affairs, tangible improvements have been scarce.

Experts insist that genuine change will require exemplary punishment, independent investigations and an apolitical police force that treats public service as a right rather than a commodity.

Without decisive action, they warn, the rule of law risks becoming little more than rhetoric.

Lottery system introduced for senior police appointments

In an effort to curb corruption and ensure neutrality ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, the Home Affairs Adviser has adopted a zero-tolerance approach.

Superintendents of Police (SPs) for all 64 districts have been appointed through a lottery system.

The selection took place on 24 November at the chief adviser’s official Jamuna residence.

Home ministry and Police Headquarters sources say the chief adviser instructed officials to prepare a list of eligible officers for field postings, with district-wise appointments to be finalised by lottery.

Joining orders for new SPs in six districts were postponed last week to allow the system to be applied uniformly.

A meeting on 22 November involving advisers, senior ministry officials and top police officers discussed reshuffling Range DIGs, district SPs and officers-in-charge (OCs).

Sources indicate that OCs may also be appointed through a lottery, with lists of “honest, neutral and qualified” inspectors already compiled.

A senior Police Headquarters officer said the system was introduced to prevent controversy surrounding election-related policing and to ensure neutral deployment at field level.

Observers regard the move as a notable step towards reducing corruption but argue that deeper structural reforms will be necessary to achieve lasting change.