New uniforms for police, RAB, Ansar finalised

The interim government has finalised new uniforms for Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Ansar and VDP, following demands for reforms and uniform changes in the law enforcement agencies after the fall of the Awami League government.

The decision was approved during a meeting of the home ministry's advisory council committee on law and order affairs today (20 January) at the Secretariat, according to media reports.

Representatives from the police, Ansar, and RAB attend a meeting of the Home Ministry's advisory council wearing 18 different uniform prototypes. Photo: Home Affairs Ministry

Representatives from the police, Ansar, and RAB participated in the meeting wearing 18 different uniform prototypes. And the three colours chosen were: Police-Iron(18-1306) RAB-Green olive (17-0535) Ansar-Golden wheat (13-1016).

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, who was present at the meeting said, "These uniforms will be given to the members of the forces in phases."

He said, "Everything including the uniforms and mentality must change. The utmost importance is being given to stopping corruption. All the uniforms and logos of the police will be changed. Many people have been heartbroken, the police no longer want to work wearing their [previous] uniform."

In response to another question, he said, "The army will remain in the field as long as needed."

The initiative for this reform gained momentum following deliberations on police reforms, which began after the AL government was toppled in a mass uprising on 5 August last year.

Representatives from the police, Ansar, and RAB attend a meeting of the Home Ministry's advisory council wearing 18 different uniform prototypes. Photo: UNB