Annual Report - Police Reform Programme

Police Reform Programme
(Phase-II)
INVESTIGATIONS, OPERATIONS, AND PROSECUTIONS
Key Outcome: Improved police operations, investigations, and prosecutions to enhance fair and
equitable justice
Key Activities and Progress:
Output 3.1: Investigation and prosecution processes upgraded from confessional to evidence
based procedures
During 2012, the PRP contributed to the ongoing review of the Evidence Act. In collaboration with the
UNDP Access to Justice (A2J) Project, the PRP provided a detailed submission in response to the draft
Proposals for Reform of Bangladesh Laws Relating to the Admissibility of "Scientific Evidence." The
PRP also provided impetuous support to the A2J Project and Governance cluster, resulting in the
involvement of prosecutors during the consultation process.
The PRP conducted a rapid assessment of the Dhaka Chemical Laboratory in preparation for the
development of the 2013 Annual Work Plan (2013 AWP). The Head of the Chemical Laboratory
identified a number of training activities required by his staff and these requests were considered during
development of the 2013 AWP.
The PRP provided assistance to the CID in order to populate the Automated Fingerprint Information
System (AFIS). This initiative involves collecting approximately 67,000 fingerprints from convicted and
remand prisoners in prisons throughout Bangladesh. The PRP supported the training of one hundred
officers in fingerprint collection techniques and released a tender to procure equipment required to
collect 67,000 fingerprints from detainees. The AFIS database population will increase the likelihood of
investigators being able to match fingerprints found at crime scenes with fingerprints of previously
incarcerated individuals.
The PRP sponsored a Bangladesh Police study tour to the Royal Thai Police Forensic Training School
which contributed to the establishment of the Forensic Training Institute (FTI) in CID. The FTI is the
focal point for delivery of all forensic science training and is expected to enhance the Bangladesh
Police's capacity to collect more physical evidence from crime scenes in a professional manner.
Forensic Working Group workshops were conducted to determine the extent of investigators seizing
evidence and conducting forensic analysis when appropriate. The assessment determined that monthly
returns are only inclusive of data related to seizure of drug-related exhibits. In consideration of the
findings, further Forensic Working Group meetings have been planned to address this shortcoming.
During this period, the PRP provided support to the Forensic Focus Group to develop an annual budget
for Dhaka and Chittagong Forensic Laboratories which are linked to the forensic strategic plan;
however, challenges persist. The CID does not have a separate budget for each crime division
including forensics, and the issue of recurrent funding for the Forensic Laboratories continues to be
problematic. This matter has been raised with the NPD who plans to schedule discussions on the
subject with the IGP and seek future funding.
There have been multiple obstacles associated with the procurement process for supplying chemicals
to the CID Forensic Laboratories at Mohakhali and Chittagong. The initial Service Request Form (SRF)
was raised in November 2011; however, the vendor failed to deliver any of the items and the contract
was cancelled. Though a new SRF was created in June 2012, the tender process failed to identify any
technically qualified suppliers. The UNDP Procurement Section advised the PRP Operations Manager
to procure these chemicals under NEX and the tender will be released in the first week of January
2013. Additionally, ten fully furnished workstations were installed to support the Mohakhali Chemical
Laboratories and improve the working environment.
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Annual Report 2012