Bangladesh: Bangladesh Police, UNODC forge stronger cooperation with capacity building initiatives

Dhaka, Bangladesh/25 September 2024: Amid rapidly evolving security challenges, the role of law enforcement has become more critical than ever. At the same time, as the landscape of crime evolves, the capacity of law enforcement must also transform to effectively combat new threats. This requires continuous capacity enhancement interventions, equipping personnel with cutting edge tools and knowledge to counter criminal activities.

In this direction, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Bangladesh, Mr. Md Mainul Islam, ndc and UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira held intensive discussions for cooperation on enhancing the capacity of the Bangladesh Police through advanced training programs on various organized crime areas.

The Inspector General of Police signalled a broader commitment to strengthening the skills and capabilities of Bangladesh’s police force in dealing with complex issues such as cybercrime, transnational crime, human trafficking, and money laundering. The cooperation between UNODC and Bangladesh Police has long been instrumental in developing a force capable of addressing contemporary threats while upholding human rights.

One of the key outcomes of this ongoing collaboration has been the significant improvement in the Bangladesh Police’s ability to combat cybercrime and transnational crime. With the surge in digital connectivity and globalization, the nation’s police force has faced an influx of cybercrime-related cases. UNODC's training programs, which include technical workshops and crisis management exercises, have provided the Bangladesh Police with modern tools and techniques to tackle these sophisticated challenges effectively.

Additionally, the collaboration has emphasized the strengthening of police-community relations, community-oriented policing a vital component of law enforcement in today’s global landscape. UNODC's training modules on community policing and accountability have helped officers approach sensitive issues like human trafficking, counter terrorism and money laundering with a more informed and empathetic perspective.

The IGP expressed his deep gratitude for UNODC’s ongoing efforts and affirmed his hope for continued partnership. UNODC has assured complete cooperation in capacity building of the Bangladesh Police.

The activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/