Efforts to tackle systemic extortion in Bangladesh are set to receive a significant legal boost, with the government preparing new legislation that will empower law enforcement agencies to initiate criminal proceedings against extortionists without relying on formal complaints from victims.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Md. Ali Hossain Fakir, disclosed the legislative initiative during an address to journalists following a community policing civic gathering at the KMP Police Lines in Boyra, Khulna.
Under the current legal framework, police officers often face severe constraints when pursuing extortion rackets. Victims frequently hesitate to file reports at police stations or provide testimonies in court due to the fear of reprisals from influential local figures and criminal networks. This climate of intimidation creates legal entanglements that allow offenders to evade justice.
The proposed legislation aims to eliminate this vulnerability. Once enacted, police officers will be legally authorised to file cases on their own initiative (suo motu), effectively removing the burden of initiating legal action from victims.
Addressing broader law enforcement challenges across the country, the IGP pointed out the difficult balancing act police forces currently navigate. When law enforcement officers exercise force to maintain order, they risk being labelled fascist; conversely, when restraint is shown, the force is often perceived as weak or ineffective.
The IGP acknowledged that a considerable wedge had formed between the public and law enforcement over the past 17 years, a period during which illicit drug abuse also proliferated across communities. Restoring public trust and curbing the widespread drug trade remain top operational priorities for the force.
To rebuild this community relationship, the police service is taking steps to restructure its community policing model. In coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, a legal framework is being drafted to establish community policing as a distinct, specialized branch within the police department.
Joint operations targeting teenage gangs, extortion syndicates, and drug dealers continue nationwide. By reducing reliance on victim statements through the forthcoming law, authorities expect to dismantle entrenched extortion rings much more effectively while safeguarding ordinary citizens.
