Community-Based Policing in Bangladesh
Public security in Bangladesh has deteriorated in recent years, with increases in robbery, extortion, assault and intimidation, violence against women, political conflict, and extremist violence. At the community level, a widening gap in mutual understanding, trust, and communication between police and citizens has further undermined public security. The Asia Foundation has been collaborating with police and citizens since 2004 on this effort at the community level in Bogra district in the northwest, and Jessore and Madaripur in the south.
Building on past experiences, in January 2011, the Foundation launched a new three-year Community-Based Policing program with the generous support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The goal of this initiative is to continue to work with police and citizens, as well as in collaboration with other international donors, to improve public security through increased citizen-police cooperation. As part of this effort, particular emphasis is being placed on Community Policing Forums in 518 villages and municipalities evenly distributed across all 124 subdistricts in the northwestern Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions.