Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) can play a key role in supporting Bangladesh’s police reform and strengthening institutional capacity.
He noted that UNDP’s assistance could help restructure the police and improve efficiency, while UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller assured continued support in this regard.
The remarks came during a courtesy meeting between the home minister and a UNDP delegation led by Liller at the minister’s official residence on Bailey Road this afternoon.
The meeting focused on law and order, police reform, the Independent Police Commission, the draft National Human Rights Commission ordinance, enforced disappearance prevention and redress ordinance, and security arrangements in Rohingya camps.
At the outset, the minister welcomed the delegation, while Liller congratulated him on assuming his new position.
On police reform, the minister said, “We are working on reforming the police. It cannot happen overnight. We believe in gradual, phased improvements. UNDP can support Bangladesh in restructuring the police, strengthening their capacity and efficiency.”
Liller highlighted the organisation’s longstanding role in establishing the National Human Rights Commission, noting its close collaboration over the past 15–17 years, including contributions to drafting its ordinance by incorporating international best practices.
Regarding the National Human Rights Commission ordinance, he said, “It is closely linked to the formation of an Independent Police Commission. Therefore, after necessary scrutiny, the ordinance will be presented in Parliament as a bill in alignment with it.”
On the enforced disappearance prevention and redress ordinance, Salahuddin Ahmed said it will be placed in Parliament as a bill after further verification. He explained that certain definitions in the draft make it difficult to identify the actual perpetrators and shared his own experiences during periods of enforced disappearance.
On granting investigative powers to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in Rohingya camps, the minister clarified that only authorised investigators can conduct inquiries.
“APBn is not an investigative body, though it will continue to maintain and strengthen security in the camps” Salahuddin added.
The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Branch of the Home Ministry Rebecca Khan, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne, Assistant Resident Representative Anowarul Haq, and UNDP Bangladesh’s Rule of Law, Justice and Security Advisor Romana Schweiger.
