Revitalising Gram Police

Local Government is a locality-based government system. In our country, its existence dates back hundreds of years, although it had undergone different shapes and forms from time to time.
In the medieval times, this region was governed by the rural institutions. These institutions mainly worked to collect revenue and maintain the economic flow of life. The system was all along centralised. The main role was played by chaukiders, who later came to be called village police. In the 1880's law and order situation in this region began to deteriorate. During that time, agitation among farmers and crimes of all kinds were on an increasing trend. To contain the situation, the Chaukideri Act 1870 was amended through the 1892 Act 1(BC).The objective of the Act was to promote social dignity of the chaukiders. At that time, people from the lower strata were employed as chaukiders. So they were not properly treated and valued. For management of this system, funds were raised known as chaukideri village management fund. By delegation of power, the chaukiders were entrusted with jobs by the district civil and police administration.
The chaukiders were given the responsibility to work for social peace and to assist the police and other agencies as and when directed by the competent authority. Many steps were taken previously but nothing succeeded to assume a good shape. So, the system did not get institutionalised. Till now, it is under the platform of local government's lower tire Union Council where it is not well organised.
At present, the concept of security is not confined to safeguarding a country from the attack of outsiders. Now-a-days, the concept of security is explored in various aspects of human life and activities. Social security has become the very part and parcel of the civilised democratic nation. So, from security perspective, the role of the village police must be recognised because of the importance of the nature of their jobs. They may be given well identified roles and responsibility for village governance. Besides, coordinated and collaborative activities may be conducted under the umbrella of social security and socio-economic development activities of the VDP members-- although any mentionable development is yet to be attained by the VDP members. So, to achieve a notable target of sustainable development, the VDP organisation may be merged with the concept of village/rural policing making it an organ of Bangladesh police force under the Ministry of Local Government. So, by this proposition a balance of power may function.
Again under the package of an umbrella platform, various committees with regard to security, education and other socio-economic sectors may be formed by the local people from all walks of life. The committee people may be selected by the local government's lower tire Union Council and by the relevant officials from the concerned Upazila.
The present government is quite concerned about the condition of the village police. If the system is brought under a regular funding arrangement and a charter of duties framed, the village scenario will change. This will be a great thing for building a positive base to combat terrorism, social evils, illiteracy and poverty. So village policing must be revitalised and reformed as it demands.

The writer is Deputy Director General & Commandant (PRL), Ansar-VDP Academy,
Safipur, Gazipur. [email protected]