The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to introduce new uniforms for its law-enforcement agencies, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and volunteers, who are called Ansar forces.
According to the new introduction of the uniforms, the police will wear iron-coloured outfits, RAB will don olive-coloured uniform and Ansar forces will sport golden wheat-coloured attire.
A report prepared by Indian intelligence agencies operating in the neighboring country has mentioned about widespread criticism from Bangladeshi citizens regarding changes in the uniforms. Some government officials have noted that the new uniforms closely resemble those of the Pakistani police.
In the report, a high-ranking government official from Bangladesh stated, "When I saw the new uniforms, I was shocked because they resemble the uniforms of the Pakistani police. The majority of people in Bangladesh hold the Liberation War against Pakistan in deep respect. This should have been considered before the uniform changes were made."
The decision to change the uniforms was finalised on Monday during a meeting of the Law and Order Advisory Committee. Representatives from the police, RAB and Ansar placed 18 uniform options, from which the final colours and designs were selected, said a central Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer.
The Bangladesh interim government gave the first hint about the changes in the uniforms within a week of Sheikh Hasina’s fall on August 5 last year.
Shortly after being appointed as the Home Affairs advisor, Brigadier General (Retd) m. Sakhawat Hossain announced plans to change the police uniforms and logo. “The police uniform and logo will be entirely changed. Many officers feel disheartened and are reluctant to work in the current attire. This will be addressed swiftly after a cabinet meeting on the matter,” Hossain said on August 11 last year.
Hossain was replaced three days after his appointment as an advisor to the interim government following the student leaders, who were at the forefront during last July's uprising, objected to his conduct.
There are significant developments in diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan since Hasina’s ouster in August last year triggering concern for Indian intelligence agencies.
"The country has established a direct maritime route between the ports of Chittagong and Karachi for the first time since the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Additionally, a delegation from Bangladesh's interim government recently visited Pakistan, our hostile neighbor to the east. Now, the introduction of a new uniform that resembles the attire of Pakistan's security forces raises concerns that should be addressed as a diplomatic issue," stated an Intelligence Bureau official.
Follow us
