We appreciate Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam’s admission that the police force has suffered and “deviated from their principles.” 

Indeed, this is a rare moment of candour that ought to be the norm when it comes to leaders of institutions. In a country where the default approach is often to shy away from acknowledging failure, such honesty is welcome. 

Recognition of wrongdoing is the first step toward reform, and the IGP deserves credit for confronting the reality that partisan practices and anti-people actions have eroded public trust in the police.

However, such candour and acceptance, while welcome, are not enough. Police reform remains among the most critical steps for the future health of the nation - and is a step that cannot be left to the police alone. 

This must be a national undertaking, involving the state, political leadership, judiciary, civil society, and oversight bodies. There is very little hope for success without systemic checks and collaborative effort. 

Preventing the tragedies at the hands of our law enforcement, where lives were lost during protests, demands structural safeguards, independent monitoring, and a culture of service over coercion.

At the same time, a functional nation requires a police force that protects citizens, not intimidates them. One that upholds the rule of law, not bends it to expediency and that earns trust through fairness, dignity, and accountability. 

Without such a force, progress and the very foundation of creating a democratic nation remains a distant dream.

We hope that the IGP’s admission is embraced as an opportunity for collective reform, and that the police, state institutions, and society as a whole rise to this challenge to transform the police force from one burdened by disgrace into one trusted by the people.