More than five decades after the recruitment of the first batch of women into Bangladesh Police in 1974, female officers are steadily transforming the country's law enforcement landscape.
Once limited to support roles, women now serve across every rank of the force – from constables patrolling communities to senior officers holding positions equivalent to Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl IGP).
Talking to BSS on Thursday, Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Gazi Jashim Uddin said women police officers have demonstrated their capabilities at every level of the Bangladesh Police, from constable to Additional Inspector General, through their hard work, dedication, professionalism, and competence.
"Women have successfully carried out the responsibilities entrusted to them at every level, from constable to Additional IG. This is a very positive development. They are no way behind in terms of performance," he said.
Highlighting the role of women officers in the Industrial Police, he said female personnel play a pivotal role in addressing labour unrest, particularly in the garment sector where the majority of workers are women.
"It would be difficult to deal with labour unrest effectively in the industrial sector without the contribution of women police personnel," he added.
Describing her 16 years of service in different capacities, Superintendent of Police Mahmuda Begum, currently serving at Industrial Police Unit-3 in Chattogram, said she is inspired by the sincerity, professionalism, and dedication of female police officers across the force.
She said women officers have achieved remarkable success through professional excellence, reaching the rank of Additional Inspector General – the second-highest position in the Bangladesh Police – which continues to inspire more women to join the force.
Recalling her years of experience in the Crime Division, Mahmuda said, "When survivors of rape or domestic violence come to us, they often speak more openly because they feel understood."
"Many women and child victims hesitate to describe traumatic experiences before male officers. As investigators, we can build trust more quickly, which ultimately strengthens the quality of evidence collected during investigations," she added.
She said professional opportunities for women have improved remarkably compared with previous generations.
"When senior women officers mentor younger colleagues, they inspire confidence across the entire force. Today, young women joining Bangladesh Police know that reaching senior leadership positions is possible through dedication and professional excellence," she said
Sharing her experience in the Industrial Police, Mahmuda said female garment workers often feel more comfortable discussing their problems with women officers, and she always tries her best to resolve their concerns.
She also advised female workers to call the national emergency service, 999, whenever they face any emergency or require police assistance.
While their numbers and responsibilities have grown significantly, female officers say the journey toward equal representation in leadership, investigations, and operational policing is still far from complete.
The issue came into focus during the Bangladesh Police Women Network (BPWN) Dhaka Divisional Consultation Workshop on the implementation of its Strategic Plan (2024-2027), held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, Dhaka.
Bangladesh Police first recruited women in 1974, marking a historic milestone in the country's policing system. At that time, female officers were largely confined to limited responsibilities and administrative assignments.
Over the decades, however, women have steadily broken institutional barriers. Today, they serve in every cadre of the force, including as constables, assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), sub-inspectors (SIs), inspectors, assistant superintendents of police (ASPs), additional superintendents, superintendents of police (SPs), deputy inspectors general (DIGs), additional DIGs and officers serving in positions equivalent to Additional Inspector General of Police.
According to Bangladesh Police, 17,970 women officers are currently serving in the force, accounting for 9.07 percent of total personnel.
Women officers are now deployed in metropolitan police units, district police, Armed Police Battalion, Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, Highway Police, River Police, Police Headquarters and international peacekeeping missions under the United Nations.
Bangladesh has also earned global recognition by deploying all-female Formed Police Units in UN peacekeeping operations.
Since its establishment in 2008, the Bangladesh Police Women Network has become the principal platform promoting women's professional development within the police force.
The network focuses on five strategic priorities that include increasing women's representation across all police ranks, promoting women into leadership and decision-making roles, enhancing professional and investigative skills, ensuring safe and inclusive working environments and strengthening gender-responsive policing throughout Bangladesh.
At the Dhaka consultation workshop, Mst. Shahala Pervin, General Secretary of BPWN and Additional DIG (Training-2), Police Headquarters, outlined the organization's Strategic Plan (2024–2027), emphasizing institutional reforms and leadership development for women officers.
The consultation also included sessions on cybercrime investigation, cyber awareness, mental well-being, workplace safety and implementation of High Court directives aimed at preventing sexual harassment.
Representatives from UN Women conducted technical sessions on survivor-centred policing, encouraging officers to adopt gender-sensitive investigative practices.
Training provided through BPWN and UN Women focuses on survivor-centred investigations, trauma-informed interviewing techniques and coordinated support services for women and children.
A female sub inspector working in a metropolitan police unit said women officers are capable of leading major operational assignments.
"Our responsibilities have expanded over the years, but opportunities in detective work, crime investigation and operational leadership should grow at the same pace. Women officers have repeatedly demonstrated that we can lead complex operations with professionalism," she said.
Representing the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh at Dhaka Divisional Consultation Workshop on the implementation of its Strategic Plan (2024–2027) of Bangladesh Police Women Network (BPWN), Enrico Lorenzon stressed that successful implementation of BPWN's Strategic Plan would depend on sustained institutional commitment and national leadership.
Meanwhile, Shrabana Datta, Manager of UN Women's Ending Violence Against Women Unit, encouraged women officers to identify professional capacity gaps so future training programmes could better address operational needs.
Bangladesh Police's modernization efforts increasingly place women at the centre of institutional reform. From strengthening cybercrime investigations to expanding survivor-centred policing and increasing women's representation in leadership, the force is gradually reshaping its approach to policing.
While women currently comprise just over nine percent of Bangladesh Police, the momentum toward greater inclusion continues. Police leaders, development partners and women officers agree that expanding recruitment, leadership opportunities, specialized training and operational responsibilities will be essential to ensuring that women can contribute fully at every level – from constable to Additional Inspector General of Police.
As Bangladesh Police implement the BPWN Strategic Plan (2024-2027), women officers hope the next chapter of their journey will be defined not only by greater numbers, but by equal opportunity, stronger leadership and a policing system that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.