The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued a comprehensive new dress code titled Police Dress Rules, 2025, detailing rank-wise uniforms and accessories for all Bangladesh Police members.

The rules were published through a gazette yesterday, repealing the previous dress code of 2004.

According to the gazette, the new official police monogram features the national flower, the Shapla (water lily), resting on water and encircled by paddy and wheat, with three jute leaves at the top. The word "Police" in Bangla appears beneath the emblem.

WORKING UNIFORM

Police officers will now wear iron-coloured shirts and coffee-coloured trousers, with separate summer (half-sleeve) and winter (full-sleeve) versions. Shirts must include six buttons, shoulder straps, and pleated pockets. Trousers will be tailored with waistband pleats and utility pockets, with the hem style varying by rank, according to the gazette.

Headdress rules specify dark blue peak caps with embroidered silver oak leaves for senior officers and blue berets or UN-style field caps for others. All caps and berets will bear rank-specific badges.

RANK INSIGNIA, ACCESSORIES

Insignia include combinations of Shapla, stars, and crossed swords or batons made from silver metal or thread embroidery. Police on tactical duty or UN missions may wear embroidered badges on detachable epaulettes, reads the gazette.

Gorget patches, belts, lanyards, boots, nameplates, and ribbons have also been standardised. Black leather or Velcro belts will be used based on rank, and nameplates must follow a dark-blue plastic or Velcro system depending on dress type.

All personnel from the superintendent of police down to a constable will wear shoulder titles reading "Police" in Bangla, according to the gazette.

CEREMONIAL, MESS, SPECIAL UNIT UNIFORMS

The ceremonial uniform includes a tunic, aiguillettes, Oxford shoes, and rank-appropriate insignia. A white mess jacket with golden epaulettes, blue-silver trims, and miniature medals will be required for formal events.

Distinct uniforms have also been specified for women officers, traffic police, APBn, Rab, immigration police, and special action teams. These include accommodations for maternity, seasonal variation, and operational requirements, reads the government gadget.

Each unit must also update its insignia to incorporate the new national monogram. Officers on UN duty will wear a patch with the national flag and the words "Bangladesh Police" in English.

OLD RULES REPEALED

The new rules officially repeal the Police Dress Rules, 2004, though previous actions taken under the old rules remain valid under corresponding provisions of the 2025 update.

The police monogram was previously revised through a gazette notification issued on February 10, 2004. Later in 2009, a new logo was introduced featuring a sailboat flanked by garlands of wheat and rice stalks. The emblem also included a shapla (water lily) above the sail and the word "Police" written in Bangla beneath the boat.

Calls for changing the police uniform and logo resurfaced after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 last year.

On August 11, a decision was made to revise the police uniform and logo during a meeting with then-home adviser M Sakhawat Hossain.

The next day, the PHQ formed a 10-member committee led by Additional DIG (Logistics) Mohammad Ataul Kibria to oversee the proposed changes.