71.5% support punishing police for using excessive force: Survey

A recent survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed that 71.5% of people demand punishment for police members involved in excessive use of force to handle protest marches and suppress opposing views.

The findings emerged from the analysis of the survey titled 'What Kind of Police Do We Want?' conducted by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry.

The survey released today (3 December)  highlighted strong public sentiment regarding the need for accountability and the safeguarding of human rights.

"…71.5% of respondents want punishment for police members involved in excessive use of force to handle protest marches and suppress dissent, which amounts to human rights violations and is considered a criminal act," the survey results indicated.

Besides, 68.8% of respondents supported including international human rights guidelines and formalising standard procedures in policing. They believed such measures would strengthen adherence to human rights.

The survey also found that 68.27% of respondents backed rewarding and penalising police members annually to encourage respect for and loyalty to human rights.

The survey also addressed public opinion on the need for prior approval from the Metropolitan Police Commission to organise meetings and gatherings.

Fifty-one point eight percent of respondents considered this requirement contrary to fundamental rights. In contrast, 37.4% did not fully agree with the requirement, and 10.8% were uncertain or hesitant.

The survey said that Article 37 of the Constitution recognises the fundamental right to organise meetings and express opinions. But, under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Law 1976, the police commissioner holds the power to postpone such gatherings for up to 30 days in the public interest.

The requirement for prior approval, however, is not mentioned in this law. Regarding the democratic development of the country, 71.2% of respondents expressed the desire to amend this provision.

The survey also shed light on the public's views on Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with 82.5% of respondents considering it an easily misused law. Among them, 46.2% called for modernising the section.

They argued that reforming this colonial-era law would uphold democratic values and implement measures that offer a scientifically beneficial quality of life. Specifically, 39.7% of respondents supported amending Section 54 based on recommendations from higher courts.

The ministry's survey engaged 24,442 participants, with 86.6% aged between 18 to 44 years. Job holders made up 36.4%, students 27.2%, and business owners 7.6%, while 7.1% were in other occupations. Most respondents came from Dhaka, followed by Chattogram and Cumilla.