When I first launched the “Why Government Matters” series, my core objective was to illustrate in plain language how the state or the government is intertwined with various facets of our daily lives, and the extent of its impact on us.
Today, I encountered a rather peculiar experience. During a conversation with a highly qualified individual in our society, I realised that he possessed absolutely no understanding of the role or powers of the Village Police (Gram Police). Unfortunately, very little reliable information is available online regarding this grassroots law enforcement agency of our country. Yet, for millions of people living across rural settlements, they represent the first visible face of the government. Therefore, I felt it was essential to pen down a note on this subject.
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The Responsibilities of the Village Police
From the British colonial era down to present-day Bangladesh, the village watchmen (Chowkidars) and head watchmen (Dafadars) have played an indispensable and remarkable role in maintaining peace and order across rural communities. Every Union Parishad employs these Village Police personnel and Dafadars under its administration. We regularly see these individuals, clad in blue or dark uniforms, walking along the dirt tracks of our villages, but many of us are unaware of the immense legal responsibilities and powers vested in them by the state.
A realistic overview of their primary responsibilities and powers is outlined below:
Primary Responsibilities of the Village Police
1. Security of Public Life and Property:
The foremost duty of the Village Police is to protect the rural population of the Union and their belongings. They conduct regular night patrols to safeguard neighbourhoods from thieves, dacoits, or miscreants, working directly on the ground to prevent crime.
2. Permanent Vigilance and Monitoring within the Union:
They play an active, round-the-clock role in maintaining peace within the village. If they notice any new or suspicious individual wandering into the area, they monitor them closely, thereby playing a major part in suppressing crime before it can even occur.
3. Ground Link and Auxiliary to the Thana Police:
The police from the central station (Thana) cannot remain stationed in remote villages at all times. The Village Police essentially function as grassroots intelligence assets, providing the station police with advance information on crimes. They are legally obligated to report regularly to the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the relevant Thana regarding the overall law and order situation of the Union.
4. Preventing Social Conflicts and Unrest:
If a land dispute or a domestic conflict in the village escalates to a point where it threatens to disrupt the peace of the Union, the Village Police swiftly inform the Thana and are required to submit a written report within 15 days.
5. Protecting State Property and Issuing Emergency Warnings:
It is their responsibility to guard public property built with taxpayers’ money—such as railway tracks, telephone poles, deep tube-wells, culverts, and the like. Furthermore, if an epidemic breaks out in the village, a flash flood occurs, or an embankment is on the verge of collapsing, they immediately alert the Union Parishad and the relevant authorities.
Power of Arrest Vested in the Village Police: What Many Do Not Know
Many people assume that the Village Police merely roam around holding batons with no real legal authority. This is an entirely mistaken notion. According to the laws of the land, the Village Police possess the power to arrest individuals directly under certain specific circumstances, without a warrant or a magistrate’s order. Legally, they can detain or arrest the following persons:
- Anyone against whom a specific allegation of a serious or cognisable offence has been lodged in court.
- Any person found wandering unlawfully or suspiciously with house-breaking implements (such as crowbars, cutters, etc.) in their possession.
- Any proclaimed offender or fugitive wanted by the government or a court of law.
- Anyone found in possession of stolen property, or property suspected to be intended for criminal purposes.
- Any convicted criminal or individual under trial who escapes or attempts to escape from lawful custody.
- Any deserter from the country’s armed forces (Army, Navy, or Air Force).
- Anyone who obstructs a public servant in the execution of their official duties.
The Legal Foundation of These Powers
There are specific legal safeguards backing these responsibilities and powers of the Village Police. The simple chart below clarifies this further:
| Legislation and Rules | Core Subject Matter |
| The Bangladesh Police (Gram Police) Rules, 1976 | Governs the recruitment, duties, administrative accountability, and authority of the Village Police. |
| The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898 | Grants them the legal authority to make warrantless arrests under special circumstances and assists them in police investigations. |
| The Bangladesh Union Parishad Act | Defines the scope of work of the Village Police under the administrative structure of the Union Parishad. |
| Special Crime Prevention Acts | Provides the legal framework for assisting the Thana police in curbing various special circumstances or social crimes. |
The Village Police and Dafadars are the absolute frontline warriors in maintaining peace and order in the remote corners of Bangladesh. During nights of storms, rain, or biting cold when the entire village sleeps, they remain awake with their batons and torches in hand.
Unfortunately, in stark contrast to this immense responsibility, their social status, salary and allowances, or the quality of their professional training remain deeply inadequate. If the state wishes to strengthen this grassroots network, it is absolutely vital to ensure proper modern training, adequate dignity, and effective institutional management for the Village Police. If we are to truly bring government to the doorsteps of ordinary people, it can never be achieved by neglecting these village officers.
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