In 2020 the police headquarters took initiatives to bring about reforms in the police force. This included “implementing Vision 2021 and Vision 2041” and researching on creating a “people's police”, which included promotions, transfers, holidays, housing, healthcare, children's education, behaviour, corruption, and resolving problems faced by female police members.
The participants in the research gave 13 suggestions on police health and welfare. These included healthy food and accommodation, fixed working hours and overtime allowance, extended annual leave, lifetime ration for martyred police members, epidemiology unit, modernisation of medical facilities and ensuring physical and mental health.
The research said that the physical and mental health of the police is in a pitiable state. In this regard, 12 recommendations were made to modernise the medical system and ensure physical and mental healthcare. The recommendations include three 8-hour shifts in 24 hours, holidays, recreation and sports.
Four years have passed since then, but police troubles at the regional level have not reduced and no effective steps have been taken to ensure health care.
“Overall, there is a sense of uneasiness among the general public in the country. The police community is a part of this society. So it affects the police as well,” a senior officer involved in the research told Prothom Alo. “Many initiatives have been taken to bring about positive change in the police force. Many steps have been implemented, some are underway. But at the field level, the physical and mental health of policemen is still largely neglected,” he said.