Opposing the Disarmament of the Police: A Threat to Public Safety in Bangladesh

Reading Time: 3 minutes The recent decision by the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order to disarm regular police personnel by withdrawing lethal weapons, except for specialised units such as the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), raises significant concerns from a law enforcement and public safety perspective. As a defence sector professional with decades of operational experience in both urban and rural contexts, I must express my professional opposition to this policy, which, though well-intentioned, poses a serious risk to public safety—particularly in a densely populated country like Bangladesh. Public Safety and Response Capability Bangladesh, with a population exceeding 180 million, is served by a comparatively small police force. According to the Bangladesh Police Annual Report (2022), the police-to-population ratio remains below the United Nations-recommended standard of 222 officers per 100,000 inhabitants (UNODC, 2010). This numerical limitation already places a strain on our capacity to maintain law and order, especially