Medieval period Details of policing activities, during the middle age are challenging to find. However, during the periods of the
Bengal Sultanate, an official holding the position of
Muhtasib used to perform the duties of policing. This person was the chief of police, in charge of public works, and the inspector of public ethics simultaneously. In urban areas,
Kotwals were responsible for performing police duties. The policing system introduced by
Sher Shah Suri was further organised during the period of
Emperor Akbar: the Emperor organised his administrative structure introducing Fouzdari (the principal representative of the Emperor), Mir Adal and Kazi (the head of judicial department), and Kotwal (the chief police official of larger cities). This system was effective in maintaining the law and order in cities, and was implemented in
Dhaka. Many district sadar police stations are still called Kotwali police stations. In the
Mughal period, Kotwal emerged as an institution. A Fouzdar was appointed to every administrative unit of the government (district), under whom there were some artillery and cavalry forces. There was a disciplined police system during the Mughal period, though there was no professional police force like that in the British period.
British period (1857 - 1947) In the early stage of the
Industrial Revolution, when England was facing grave crisis due to socio-economic transformation, the necessity of an effective organised police service was keenly felt.
Sir Robert Peel, then the Prime Minister, introduced a bill in the British Parliament in 1829 that created an organised civil police in London. The success of the London police in controlling social disorder and crime was admired by not only the people of England but also of European and American countries: New York city copied the London model with some modifications when it organised the first Municipal Police Force, in 1833. In 1858, full control of the Indian Territory was taken over from the
East India Company by the
British government. The success of the London Police organised under Peel's
Metropolitan Police Act 1829 prompted the British government to reform the police system in the sub-continent in a similar way to British constabularies. With this end in view, a
police commissioner was set up in 1861, and on the recommendation of the commission of the Police Act, 1861 (Act V of 1861), was passed. Under this act, a police force was created in each province of British India, and placed under the control of the provincial government. The administration of the police force of a province was vested upon an officer styled as the
Inspector-general of police. The administration of the police in a district was placed under the
Superintendent of Police. The Act is still in force throughout the sub-continent, and regulates the function of police in Bangladesh, as well as the other countries of the sub-continent. The police could many times be used to suppress protest or movements like the
Nachole uprising,
Bengali language movement,
1962 East Pakistan Education movement and
1969 East Pakistan mass uprising.
Role in Liberation War In the
Bangladesh Liberation War, Bengali-speaking police officers participated with the citizens, leading to deaths from most ranks, fighting with
.303 rifles against the
Pakistani Army. The resistance by the Bengali members of police at
Rajarbagh and in
Kushtia is considered the first chapter of armed struggles during the
Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh Police founded a Liberation War Museum at the Rajarbagh police line in January 2017.
Bangladesh (1971 - present) After the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country on 16 December 1971, the police force was recognised and assumed the role of a national police force. The boat symbol was brought back during the
second premiership of Hasina. However, following the
July Revolution, on 22 April 2025, the police logo and symbol was changed through a
gazette published by the
Interim government. The gazette of the new dress code was published on the same day. The new logo, resembles the
National emblem of Bangladesh. == Organisation ==