The proposal to limit the use of deadly force by the police in crowd control is a timely and much-needed move. According to The Daily Star, a special committee in the Police Headquarters has recommended changes to the police’s arms policy, which will be sent to the home ministry and Armed Forces Division for approval. The proposed changes include banning revolvers and lead pellets in shotguns, switching to 9mm pistols with a shorter range, and replacing half of long-barrel firearms with short-barrel versions to reduce casualties.
These suggestions come after the deadly July uprising, where over 800 lives were lost and more than 11,000 people were injured, many by lead pellets that blinded over 400 protesters. A report analyzed 204 deaths, revealing that 95% of victims were shot with live rounds or shotgun pellets, mostly targeting vital areas like the head, chest, and stomach.
The committee also recommends that only two officers in a platoon of 30 should carry lethal weapons for extreme situations, with a focus on aiming for lower body areas to reduce fatalities. Over the past 15 years, the police force has become increasingly militarized, often using force to suppress political opposition rather than serving the public. The excessive use of violence during the July uprising marked a disturbing new chapter.
While the committee’s recommendations are a step in the right direction, it’s crucial to establish a system that holds officers accountable for their actions, ensuring that lethal force is only used in life-threatening circumstances. This would mark a much-needed de-militarization of Bangladesh’s police force, sparing future lives from unnecessary violence.
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