QUARTERLY PROGRESS 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 changed from confession to
evidence based procedures
Activity 3.1.1 Support Bangladesh Police MoHA, MLJP, High Court, Attorney-General’s
office and other concern authorities to establish a working Group to deal with
the strategic, operational and scientific development and use of forensic in
criminal investigation and trial procedures.
Contributed to an ongoing review of the Evidence Act
PRP contributed to the ongoing review of the Evidence Act during this period. In collaboration
with the UNDP Access to Justice (A2J) Project, PRP provided a detailed submission in response
to the first draft of the Proposals for Reform of Bangladesh Laws Relating to the Admissibility of
“Scientific Evidence” that had been prepared by an A2J consultant. PRP also participated in a
consultation meeting arranged by A2J to discuss further the received submissions and offered to
facilitate further consultative meetings on the matter with senior ranking police officials and
representatives from the Attorney-General’s Department. Various attempts by the A2J to obtain
authority to engage the Attorney-General’s Department were unsuccessful and the recently
appointed head of the UNDP Justice Sector Facility has taken responsibility for gaining the
authority for the Attorney-General’s Department to participate in the ongoing consultations.
Sub-Activity 3.1.1: Provide further support to the Forensic Working Group to enhance the use of
forensic procedures in investigations and trial procedures (as per draft
Forensic Science and Crime Scene Management Strategy).
PRP conducted a rapid assessment of the Dhaka Chemical Laboratory
PRP conducted a rapid assessment of the Dhaka Chemical Laboratory in preparations for the
development of the 2013 annual work plan (AWP). The Head of the Chemical Laboratory
identified a number of specific training activities that are required by his staff and these requests
were considered as part of the development of the draft 2013 AWP.
Activity 3.1.2: Support efforts to develop a Forensic Science Strategy and on the basis of the
strategy, procure forensic equipment which is sustainable and cost effective
and assist the Bangladesh Police to train personnel in their use.
A Forensic Working Group workshop was conducted
A Forensic Working Group workshop was conducted to assess the progress of implementation
of the IGP’s order requiring each district/metropolitan area to produce a monthly report showing
how many exhibits were seized during investigations, their details and if/where they were sent
for analysis. This assessment was undertaken to determine to what extent investigators are
Quarterly Progress Report | July - September 2012
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