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The Police Reform Commission chief Safar Raj Hossain has said political affiliation will no longer be considered in police verification for government jobs.
Speaking after a meeting with Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the Secretariat on Monday, he explained that while police verification would remain a mandatory part of the recruitment process, political considerations regarding candidates or their family members would not influence the process, reports bdnews24.com.
“The national identity card will be considered as the primary document for verification,” said Safar.
The commission head added that the police verification process, which has been in place since 1928 for jobs in government institutions, including banks, has often been subject to accusations of political bias.
The interim government formed the Police Reform Commission on Sept 11. The commission began its work on Oct 6 and is expected to submit its recommendations by Dec 31.
Safar said while some of the commission’s recommendations could be implemented in a short time, others would require more time, financial resources, or changes to existing laws and regulations.
"Implementing these reforms is the responsibility of the government, while our role is to propose the necessary changes," he added.
On police reform discussions, Safar also stressed adherence to High Court guidelines on arrests without warrants under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
He also emphasised that when police take someone into remand under Section 167, they must follow High Court instructions, including informing the family of the person arrested without a warrant.
The commission chief said, "Corruption is our top enemy. Efforts are under way to free police and government departments from political influence, which has enabled corruption and unfair promotions over the years."
“Recommendations are being prepared to put an end to such practices,” he added.