An Assignment on

Role of Security Forces in the Democracy in

Bangladesh

Prepared For
Shiblee Noman Naushad
Lecturer
Course: Political Systems and Governance in Bangladesh
Course code: 3223
Department of Political Science
Jagannath University, Dhaka.

Department of Political Science

Jagannath University, Dhaka.

Prepared By
Md. Jaminur Rahman
Id No.120402119
Session: 2012-2013, 8th Batch
Department of Political Science
Jagannath University, Dhaka.
 Security Forces and The Democracy

Table of Contents

S.L. No. Particulars Pages:

Prefetch
1.1 Cover Page I
1

1.2 Letter of Submission III

Introduction to My Assignment
2.1 Introduction to My Assignment 4
2.2 Objective & Vision of My Assignment 4
2

2.3 Methodology of Study 4

2.4 Limitations of Study 4

Role of Security Forces in The Democracy In

Bangladesh
3.1 Introduction 5
3.2 Democracy And Security Forces 5
3

3.3 Relation Between Security Force & Democracy 6

3.4 Role of security forces in the democracy in 6
Bangladesh
3.5 Positive Role of Security Forces 6
3.6 Negative Role of Security Forces 8
3.7 Evaluation 10

Conclusion 11
4

Reference 11

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

1.2: Letter of Submission:

Date: 10th April 2016

Shiblee Noman Naushad

Lecturer
Department of Political Science
Jagannath University, Dhaka-1000

Subject: Submission of the Assignment on Role of Security Forces in the Democracy in

Bangladesh.

With due respect, we are pleased to be able to submit this assignment in time. In the assignment we
have tried to focus on the Security Forces in the Democracy in Bangladesh.

I have come to know actually what the Roles are and how the roles are performed by the Security
Forces in the Democracy of Bangladesh.

I hope that this assignment will be successful to attract your appreciation. It will be my pleasure if you
call on me for any query regarding this assignment.

Any short coming in this assignment is absolutely my fault.

Sincerely yours,
Md. Jaminur Rahman
ID No.120402119
Session: 2012-2013, 6th Semester, 8th Batch.
Dept. Political science
Jagannath University, Dhaka

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

2.1: Introduction to My Assignment

As an essential part of the course titled “Political Systems and Governance in Bangladesh” I’m
assigned to submit this assignment on “Role of Security Forces in The Democracy in Bangladesh”.

2.2: Objective & Vision of the Assignment

This Study is intended to analyze and interpret on the Role of Security Forces in The Democracy in
Bangladesh. Specific purposes of preparing the Assignment are:

 Introduction to democracy & security forces

 Relation between democracy and security forces
 Role of security forces In Bangladesh
 Current democratic evaluation in Bangladesh

2.3: Methodology of the Study

We were required to survey on most recent information regarding Role of Security Forces in The
Democracy in Bangladesh. Most of the information used in this assignment is from both primary and
secondary sources.

Primary Sources:
 Miscellaneous Book Reading.

Secondary Sources:
 Democracy in Bangladesh ___Muhammad Ruhul Amin.
 Various types of Websites

2.4: My Limitations
To conduct this study sheer experiences are needed. But we have lack of those.
As like-
 Without practical work experience it was comparatively difficult to complete The Assignment.
 It was difficult to gather sufficient information due to limitation of time.

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

3.1: Introduction

Democracy is a form of government that practice in Bangladesh but we have passed about forty-five
years since independence but our achievements in the spheres of democracy is not noteworthy. Overall
security forces influence democratic government in several times in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh every
political people and security forces talk about democratic incessantly. Even so the nation has failed to
put it into practice democracy.

3.2.1: Democracy: Meaning & Concept

The term democracy is derived from the Greek words, demos and Katia that meaning the people and
the rule Democracy thus means power of the people. It is now regarded as a form of government in
which the people rule themselves either directly, or indirectly through their representatives.
In brief, we can say that
“Democracy is that form of government in which the sovereign power of the state is in the
Hands of the people and people are the source of the state power and the people take part in
The government directly or through their representatives.”

“Democracy is the government of the people by the people for the people”.
-----------Abraham Lincoln.
“Democracy is a form of government in which the governing body is a comparatively large function
of the entire nation.”
-----------Dicey.
“Democracy is that form of government in which the mass of the population possesses the right to
share in the exercise of sovereign power.”
----------------Prof. Gettell
3.2.2: Security Forces: Meaning & Concept
Security force is an umbrella term frequently used to describe statutory organizations with military,
paramilitary, or internal security mandates.

The guardsmen, who are working with Air Force security forces, include artillery gun crew members,
or ``gun bunnies,'' and others are from a variety of other functions, including medics and administrative
staff.
-----------------A. Edwards

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

3.2.3: The Security Forces in Bangladesh

Bangladesh traditionally had a number of powerful security forces and influential military and civilian
intelligence agencies with separate mandates and reporting lines. Various security forces in
Bangladesh are:
1) Police.
2) RAB
3) BGB
4) Coast Guard
5) Ansar and Others Forces.

3.3: Relation between security forces and democracy

There is an effective and remarkable relation between security forces and democracy in current
political aspect. In Bangladesh, the security forces has played a crucial role during several authoritarian
setbacks on its path to democratic consolidation. In this context, the study shows that civil-military
relations in Bangladesh have tended to be affected by historical legacies.

3.4: Role of security forces in the democracy in Bangladesh

The role of security forces in democracy in Bangladesh is an essential fact in current situation. Though
Bangladesh has yet to build a political system based on consensus and compromise, it has come a long
distance in that direction. In current democracy security forces play positive and negative roles.

3.5: Positive role in democracy of security force.

There are some positive roles in the democracy of security forces that ensure rule of law and many
other factors. These are discussed below
1. Ensuring rule of law
2. Protecting fundamental right to the people
3. Protecting violence against democracy
4. Manage a fair election with the help of election commission
5. Security forces ensure freedom of press, media and newspaper
6. Neutral position in democratic system

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

7. To ensure freedom of speech

8. To protect illegal power raising
9. To ensure democratic valuation
10. Free from influence of ruling party
11. To protect corruption and terrorism

3.5.1: Ensuring rule of law

This paper is a presentation of the concept of rule of law, Dicey's theory of 'Rule of Law', rule of law
in true and modern sense and rule of law in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh context I have discussed the
provisions for ensuring rule of law in Bangladesh constitution. I also have discussed the provisions of
the constitution, which are contrary to the concept of rule of law in Bangladesh. It has been also
identified the difficulties of application of rule of law in Bangladesh.

3.5.2: Protecting Fundamental rights to the people:

In a democracy people are given fundamental rights because in the absence of these rights the
development of an individual is not possible. Fundamental rights have been granted to the people in
their Constitutions in Bangladesh., France and Italy. Basically the security forces protect all
fundamental rights of mass people.

3.5.3: Protecting violence against democracy.

Sometime our country face political violence and political unrest that time security force highlight
their role such as we can show the election time of 2014 in Bangladesh . Fierce conflict between the AL
and the BNP over the mechanism for conducting the 2014 elections started more than two and a half years
before the polls. In June 2011.in this situation forces play their role to ensure democracy.

3.5.4: Security forces manage a fair election.

Security forces should be managed a fair election. Because fair election is the first condition of
democracy. Every five-year term, it holds general election. Independent, impartial and periodical
elections help in establishing faith of the people and the opposition a democracy, otherwise the
opposition party will not get an opportunity for forming the government.

3.5.5: Security forces ensure freedom of press, media and newspaper

Today all the press, media and newspapers are enjoying the full independence Radio and TV. So we
can say it is another light of hopes for democracydard. THE MASS MEDIA are often referred to as the

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

fourth branch of government because power they wield and the oversight function they exercise. The
media’s key role in democratic governance has been recognized.

3.5.6: Neutral position of security forces in democratic system.

Special emphasis is laid on fair position is must to the security forces in democracy and there is no
disparity among the people on the basis of caste, religion and position of status. Secody forces stay
neutral position every democratic system because without neutral position democracy is failure.

3.5.7: To ensure freedom of speech

Security force maintain freedom of speech when peoples fall of crisis of freedom of speech .thus people
get their democratic rights and it is the main duty of the security forces .without ensuring freedom of
speech democracy is discouraged .

3.5.8: To protect illegal power raising:

When any party or groups or mass people want to raise illegal power security force protect their
malpractice .such as when gouge and terrorist grumps do their evil deeds security forces arrest them
and showed in law.

3.5.9: To ensure democratic valuation.

The first and format duty of a security force to ensure democratic valuation. Besides they interfere
illegal dispute when create and take good stalemate among the victim. Without maintain the
democratic valuation it is not possible to establish democratic.

3.6: Negative role in democracy of security forces.

There are some negative effect of security forces to establish democracy in Bangladesh. Sometimes
their roles are not acceptable especially in current activity in the political affairs such as failure to
establish rule of law and other crucial factors as follows:
1) Failure to establish rule of law
2) Control over freedom of movement, expression and assembly
3) Politicization of the Armed Forces
4) Politically used by ruling party
5) Killings by Security Forces of Protesters
6) The Emergence of the Military as the Ruling Elite
7) Corruption and terrorism:

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

8) Arrests and Intimidation of Protesters and the Media

3.6.1: Failure to establish rule of law.

Bangladesh security forces fail to establish rule of law. In our country, rule of law became merely a
farce instead of making up the sun that shines on democracy. Today it has become the part of our
political culture that police took action against oppositions and turned a blind eye to the real
perpetrators. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order within
Bangladesh

3.6.2: Control over freedom of movement, expression and assembly.

Freedom and openness is government transaction is a necessary part of Effective democracy. And
press and media fulfill these two necessary elements of Government. Any opposition party wants to
call meeting they control over freedom of movement.

3.6.3: Politicization of the security Forces.

In present time they are highly involve in politics. A high level of politicization of the armed forces is
evident in Bangladesh. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace, and enforcement of law and order
within Bangladesh. Though the police are primarily concerned with the maintenance of law and order
and security of persons and property of individuals, they also play a big role in the criminal justice
system.
3.6.4: Politically used by ruling party.

With new protests planned in the coming days, the Bangladeshi government should ensure that the
security forces immediately end their practice of using excessive force against protesters. The
government should appoint an independent commission to investigate the deaths of dozens of
protesters, including children, since large-scale street protests began in February, and prosecute anyone
responsible for unlawful killings and use of force.

3.6.5: Protesters Killing by Security Forces

Human Rights watch documented 18 incidents between February 28 and March 6 in which protesters
and bystanders were killed by live ammunition fired by security forces, including the police, BGB and
RAB.

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

3.6.6: The Emergence of the Military as the Ruling Elite

When country face political crisis they play as ruling such as On January 11, 2007, only weeks
before parliamentary elections were to be held, President Iajuddin Ahmed, under pressure from the
armed forces, declared a state of emergency

3.6.7: Corruption and terrorism:

Corruption and terrorism is the big barrier to promote democracy that is created by security forces. In
present time extra judiciary killing is happen such as incident of limon.

3.6.8: Arrests and Intimidation of Protesters and the Media

Many Bangladeshis we spoke with believe authorities used spurious criminal charges to intimidate
eyewitnesses and family members of protesters killed by security forces. In a number of instances after
protests, police lodged criminal complaints from members of the public) against hundreds and
sometimes thousands of “unknown assailants.”

3.7: Evaluation.
Bangladesh Police has been criticized for having political influence in all levels, and the major decisions are taken
under political conditions. Corruption is widespread among the law enforcement, with custody deaths and torture
being prevalent. All of this has sent an unambiguous signal to the political parties that the army will
resist any attempts by an elected government at limiting its powers, holding it accountable, and
prosecuting its officers for human rights abuses and other illegal acts to establish Democracy in
Bangladesh the of security forces is not so good .

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 Security Forces and The Democracy

Conclusion
From the above discussion we can say that the role of security forces in democracy was discussed from
various viewpoints and applied it various way. Today most of the people want to enjoy this form of
government. The people of Bangladesh are not out of them. But Bangladesh has been facing various
problems to institutionalize democracy since its Independence. Especially interfere security forces Yet
it, prospects of democracy in Bangladesh today are not insignificant. I think the suggested policy
measures given above would be helpful for the policy makers of the state for democratic development.
For this the media, civil society and socio-political organizations and institutions must play the
pioneering role.

References
Ahamed, Emajuddin. (2004). The military and democracy in Bangladesh. Dhaka University: ANU E
Press.

Hossain, M. A. (2015). Democracy in Bangladesh: Problems & Prospects. Rajshahi: Rajshahi

University.

Amin, Muhammad Ruhul (2015). Democracy in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities. Dhaka:
Dhaka University.

Kapur, A.C. 1993. Principles of Political Science. New Delhi: S. Chand & Company Ltd.

Agarwal, R.C. 1991. Political Theory. New De4lhi: S. Chand & Company Ltd.

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