BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organised a Dialogue on “Promoting a Multistakeholder Approach to Support Police Reform in Bangladesh to Advance Comprehensive, People-Centered, and Human Rights-Based Reform Efforts” on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 at Hotel Sheraton, Banani, Dhaka. Mr. Baharul Alam, BPM, Honourable Inspector General, Bangladesh Police, graced the event as the Chief Guest. Welcome remarks for the event was delivered by Dr. Suruchi Pant, UNODC Deputy Regional Representative, South Asia. Mr. Felipe Ramos, UNODC Head of Office, Bangladesh described the aims and objectives of the dialogue. The inaugural session was chaired by Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General, BIISS.

The Inaugural Session was followed by three roundtables. The first roundtable was on “Police professionalization, independence and community engagement” which was moderated by Mr. Shah Mohammad Naheeaan, National Programme Coordinator, UNODC Bangladesh. In this session, Mr. Rachid Habchi and Mr. Rogier Donk, Experts from the Netherlands, Peer-to-Peer Diversity Network of the National Police of the Netherlands and Mr Sofiene Bacha, Policy Analyst (Security and Rule of Law), UNDP Headquarter virtually shared their valuable insights and experiences as International Expert. Mr. Motiar Rahman, Former DIG, Bangladesh Police talked as the National Expert.

The second roundtable titled “Promoting a human rights-based approach to the use of force and firearms; Effective and evidence-based investigations and interviewing approaches” was moderated by Mr. Nurul Huda, Former IGP, Bangladesh Police. Mr. SM Ruhul Amin, Former Additional IGP, Bangladesh Police talked as the national expert. The International Experts who spoke virtually in this session were Mr. Knut D. Asplund, Project Manager, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights and Mr. Neil Corney, Omega Research Foundation.

The third roundtable was on “Strengthening accountability and oversight mechanisms and enhancing institutional integrity”. Mr. Felipe Ramos, Head of Office, UNODC Bangladesh, was the moderator of this session. As international experts Mr Sani El-Mustapha, the Head of the Nigeria Police Force Complaints Response Unit (CRU) and Mr. Ian D. Scott, former Director of the Special Investigations Unit in Ontario, Canada, spoke virtually. Mr. Nurul Huda, Former IGP,

Bangladesh Police, spoke as national expert.

 

Ms. Anna Giudice, Team Leader, Access to Justice, UNODC HQ Vienna, delivered in all three roundtables as an expert from UNODC. Each roundtable was followed by a vibrant and engaging question and answer session. Ms Anubha Sood, UNODC Regional Representative, South Asia, delivered the closing remarks. The Dialogue was participated by representatives from a wide range of relevant organisations which included the Bangladesh Police and its various departments, branches and units, Coast Guard, Bangladesh Border Guard, different ministries, Attorney General’s Office and other Judiciary related institutes and organisations.