UNESCO will provide cooperation in police training and reform, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said after a meeting with a delegation from the agency.
A three-member delegation led by UNESCO Country Representative Susan Vize met with the minister at his office in the National Parliament on Wednesday. The other members were Head of Communication and Information of UNESCO Bangladesh Farhana Shahnewaz and Media and Information Project Lead Shakil M Faisal.
The UNESCO Country Representative informed that UNESCO has ongoing projects on training for police and journalists, adding that discussions have been held with the Inspector General of Police regarding police training.
“If the ministry gives permission, we want to start training by June next,” Vize said.
The home minister gave his consent and instructed concerned officials to arrange the training quickly.
Vize informed that 700 police officers of the rank of SP and OC had been trained before the national election.
The minister recommended providing training to officers of the rank of DIG and SP at every divisional headquarters with UNESCO’s cooperation. He opined that the training would be more effective if officers working in the media wings of various police units were included, and suggested holding the training programme on Saturdays for convenience.
UNESCO is also arranging similar training programmes for journalists, Vize informed.
The home minister said the current government believes in press and freedom of expression, though accountability is also important. He emphasised improving mutual relations between police and journalists.
Joint Secretary of the Political-1 Sub-division of the Home Ministry Rebeka Khan and Deputy Secretary of the Political-1 Branch Begum Minara Nazmin, among others, were present at the meeting.
