ROUGH ROADS TO EQUALITY

Survey Findings
Our main aim in presenting the findings laid out below is to provide an overview of the experiences and
perspectives of women police from different ranks, as well as the barriers women continue to face within the
Bangladesh Police. It is our hope that this lays the groundwork for further study and policy development by
the police to embed gender equality.
i. Personal Motivation and Attitude of Family and Society
To understand the personal motivations of women police, as well as the attitudes of their families and society
at large, we addressed these issues in our focus group discussions and surveys. When asked why they joined
the police force, Constables, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspectors across the country cited
both diverse and common themes.
Women’s personal reasons for joining the police were diverse. These included economic reasons, such as the
need to provide for oneself and family. One respondent stated, “I had desire to have a government job. As an
eldest child of family and to undertake responsibility towards younger brother and sisters and to serve people and my
family.” Others were encouraged to join the police by family members, one poignant example included, “I
am daughter of freedom fighter. He was killed in the freedom fight before my birth when he was ranked as S.I. To
show respect to him, I joined in police”.
Other participants cited national and civic pride and a sense of duty as reasons for becoming police personnel.
According to one participant,
“I always thought that police department make a huge contribution to ensuring peace in the country. I
thought I can present something to my country and myself by joining police department.”
Another woman stated that she “had desire from my childhood that I will serve people by doing job in police
department.” Additional statements on the nature of the policing profession included: “Police force is a welldisciplined
force. They have to do lot of work with people. There are opportunities to produce case investigation
report before honourable court by discovering the truth.”
Others highlighted the ability of the police to prevent crime and protect vulnerable populations, including
women and children. One woman said, “In our country women are neglected and oppressed by men so that to be
with women and to ensure women’s rights and also this is a different and respectful profession.”
Finally, several respondents shared that they wanted to expand opportunities for women by joining the police.
As one participant stated: “Women have to pass their life within a limited circle, like to be born in her father’s
home, then marry. I wish to get out from this so I joined in police job.” Such sentiments were closely tied with
personal desires to demonstrate aptitude and professionalism. One woman said she joined the police to
“arouse my own will power, to serve people, to prove my own qualification and prove I can also do it”. Another said
she joined to “prove my courage and skill”.
Clearly, women have diverse, poignant reasons for joining the police. They are motivated to ensure security
and law and order in the country. Many expressed a desire to see justice done. Significantly, several emphasised
justice for themselves and other women, both in terms of their profession, as well as for women as vulnerable
members of society.
But even the most motivated women can be negatively impacted without support from her family, especially
if she has children. To hone in on the level of familial support women have, we asked the survey respondents:
1) whether their families supported their decision to join the police and 2) if they were in favour of their being
in the police service.
In the ranks of Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspectors, the vast majority said their families
supported them in joining the police and liked them being in the police. Only one ASI responded that her
family did not support her joining the police, or liked her being in the service.
Similarly, an overwhelming majority of the Constables said that their families supported them when they
joined the police and liked them being in the police service. Three constables answered “no” to both questions.
Survey Findings
WOMEN POLICE IN BANGLADESH
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