Evaluating the Reform Proposals of Police Reform Commission 2024: A Step Towards Accountable Policing in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Police reform in Bangladesh has been constrained by colonial legacies, authoritarian practices, and political patronage, weakening institutional autonomy and public trust. The Police Reform Commission (PRC) 2024, established by the interim government, proposed 108 measures to modernize the police and enhance accountability. This study evaluates these proposals using a convergent mixed-methods approach, combining surveys of 350 citizens and 50 police personnel with key informant interviews and document analysis. Findings indicate limited awareness only 36–45% of respondents demonstrated detailed knowledge but strong support for structural reforms, including an independent police commission (63% of citizens; 94% of police). The study confirms H1, showing that political interference, organizational inertia, and weak monitoring constrain implementation, while validating H2, as stakeholders perceive the reforms as relevant, necessary, and potentially impactful. Factor analysis identified four dimensions Structural Reform & Modernization, Structural Independence, Legal Accountability, and Institutional Challenges highlighting that technical reforms are more attainable than those requiring shifts in political power. The study concludes that meaningful change requires both institutional restructuring and a cultural shift to achieve accountable, democratic policing in Bangladesh.