Nov 20, Kathmandu - Bangladesh police have signaled reforms by unveiling new uniforms, hoping to rebuild deeply damaged public trust as the country prepares for its first national election since a mass uprising.

At least 1,400 people were killed and thousands more injured in the unrest that followed the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government in 2024, many of them by police gunfire.

“The Bangladesh police are facing an unprecedented crisis,” said police spokesman Shahadat Hossain, adding that policymakers suggested that a new uniform could bring about some positive change.

The uniform, long known for its turquoise and blue colors, has now been transformed into iron-brown shirts and chocolate-brown trousers.

But many remain deeply skeptical about whether the uniform alone can repair a tarnished reputation. “Whenever I see a policeman, I feel like cutting his flesh,” said Najma Akhtar, 48. “I don’t know when I will get rid of this hatred.”

I don't know when I will be free from this hatred.' His 17-year-old son Ghulam Nafiz lost his life during the uprising. His son was shot, denied entry to the hospital, and ultimately died of excessive bleeding on August 4, 2024.