Police Service Association calls for uniform change within days of government transition

It says the interim government approved the new uniform without consulting officers, warning it lacks distinctiveness and adds unnecessary cost

Within a week of the new government taking office, the Bangladesh Police Service Association has demanded a reversal of the recently introduced police uniform, saying most officers oppose the change and were not consulted before the decision was made.

In a statement issued on Monday night, the association, which represents cadre officers of the Bangladesh Police, said the interim government had approved the new uniform without seeking the views of serving officers and without proper public or institutional scrutiny.

The demand comes shortly after the end of the interim administration, which concluded following the formation of a BNP-led government on Feb 17 after the 13th parliamentary election.

Although dissatisfaction with the uniform had existed among police members for months, no formal objection was raised during the tenure of the interim government.

The new uniform, introduced on a limited scale from Nov 15, 2025, replaced the long-standing blue-and-green colour scheme with an “iron grey” design for range and metropolitan police personnel.

The association noted that the previous major uniform change, from khaki to blue and green in 2003–04, followed extensive deliberations by a government-appointed committee. That process, it said, considered factors such as officers’ skin tone, the country’s climate, visibility during day and night duties, and distinction from other uniformed services.

By contrast, the statement alleged, the interim government selected the new uniform without taking into account those considerations or consulting police personnel.

It said the new design closely resembles uniforms worn by other agencies, making it difficult to identify police officers in operational settings — a concern raised by field-level members.

The association said it was “deeply concerned” that the majority of police personnel do not support what it described as a hurried decision, adding that many officers regard the previous uniform as a symbol of the force’s tradition, discipline and professionalism.

It also pointed out that police officers wearing the earlier uniform had played a key role in ensuring a peaceful, credible and widely praised national election.

Beyond design concerns, the association warned that changing uniforms is an expensive process that could place additional strain on the national economy.

It argued that resources would be better spent on modernising the force, improving morale, strengthening logistics and enhancing professionalism.

“The colour or design of the uniform is not the priority at this moment,” the statement said. “What matters most is reforming mindset, boosting morale and improving professionalism.”

In that context, the association formally urged the new government to reconsider the decision to introduce the new uniform.