Sociologist Kurt Lewin developed a 'force field analysis' model (1951) which describes any current level of performance or being as a state of equilibrium between the driving forces that encourage upward movement and the restraining forces that discourage it. Essentially this means that a current equilibrium exists because the forces acting for change are balanced by the forces acting against change.The driving forces are (usually) positive, reasonable, logical, conscious and economic. The restraining forces are (usually) negative, emotional, illogical, unconscious and social/psychological. Both sets of forces are very real and need to be taken into account when dealing with change, or managing change, or reacting to change. This paper contains force field analysis on current law and order situation of Bangladesh.

1. Force field analysis on
Current Law and order situation in
Bangladesh
Dept. of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Submitted To :
Dr. Naznin Islam
Professor,
Dept. of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Submitted By :
Md. Ahasan Uddin Bhuiyan
-
Dept. of Public Administration
University of Dhaka

2. Introduction :
Sociologist Kurt Lewin developed a 'force field analysis' model (1951) which describes any
current level of performance or being as a state of equilibrium between the driving forces that
encourage upward movement and the restraining forces that discourage it. Essentially this means
that a current equilibrium exists because the forces acting for change are balanced by the forces
acting against change.The driving forces are (usually) positive, reasonable, logical, conscious and
economic. The restraining forces are (usually) negative, emotional, illogical, unconscious and
social/psychological. Both sets of forces are very real and need to be taken into account when
dealing with change, or managing change, or reacting to change. This paper contains force field
analysis on current law and order situation of Bangladesh.
Step-1 : Statement of the Problem:
Current Law and order situation in Bangladesh
Background of the Issue: The Law and Order of Bangladesh is primarily in accordance with the
English legal system although since 1947, the legal scenario and the laws of Bangladesh have
drifted far from the West owing to differences in socio-cultural values and religious guidelines.
Although it is started by forming the first Municipal Police Force in 1833 by British. In 1861
Police Act was passed by the British Parliament. Since the independence of Bangladesh,
Bangladesh Police performing their duties under this act. These rights are constitutionally
adopted and accepted to ensure the fundamental rights and as well as to establish a strong law
and order administration. The articles of constitutions regarding law and order situation are : Part
III, article: 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 41 and 42 etc.. Law enforcement agencies are
administrated by the Ministry Of Home Affairs of the GOB. There are several Law Enforcement
Agencies in BD, those are: Bangladesh Police , Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guards,
Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Anser, Village Defense Party (VDP) and Intelligence agencies:
NSI, SB, DGFI. Legal Framework of Law Enforcement Agencies include : Bangladesh Police -
The Police Act 1861 and BD Police Ordinance 2007. RAB- The Armed Police Battalion
Ordinance 1979, implemented 2004, BGB- Perform under several acts, BD Control Entry Act
1952, Custom Act 1969, Emigration Ordinance 1987, Drug Control Act 1990, Anser and VDP-
East Pakistan Anser Act 1948
Over all Law and order situation is deteriorating day by day and it become worse during the
election time. This may be General election or any other election. Various types of incidents that
deteriorating current law and order situation are : Disappearances and kidnappings, Extra-
judicial Killings, Attack on Minority, Political Violence etc.. The situation can be systematically
analyzed through force field analysis.
Step-2 : Driving and Restraining forces of the problem
Driving forces:
Skill and merit base of law enforcing agencies
Sound legal and institutional framework
Compliances, compensation and other motivational packages
Complete independence of the judiciary

3. Transparency and accountability of law enforcing agency members
A higher pay scale
Restraining forces:
Politicization and hidden political agenda of politicians
Dishonesty and Corruption
Political and religious terrorism
Political unrest and political crimes
Illiteracy and Superstition
Unclear legal framework and poor execution of existing laws
Step-3 : Weighing the Driving and Restraining forces according to their intensity
Driving forces Degree of Intensity
Skill and merit base of law enforcing agencies 7.5
Sound legal and institutional framework 6
Compliances, compensation and other motivational packages 6.5
Complete independence of the judiciary 5.5
Transparency and accountability of law enforcing agency
members
6
A higher pay scale 5
Restraining forces Degree of Intensity
Politicization and hidden political agenda of politicians 6.5
Dishonesty and Corruption 6
Political and religious terrorism 7
Political unrest and political crimes 5.5
Illiteracy and Superstition 4.5
Unclear legal framework and poor execution of existing laws 5
Step-4 : Degree ofinfluences of the Driving and Restraining forces
Driving forces Degree of Influence
Skill and merit base of law enforcing agencies 7
Sound legal and institutional framework 6
Compliances, compensation and other motivational packages 5.5
Complete independence of the judiciary 5
Transparency and accountability of law enforcing agency
members
6.5
A higher pay scale 5
Restraining forces Degree of Influence
Politicization and hidden political agenda of politicians 6.5
Dishonesty and Corruption 7
Political and religious terrorism 7.5
Political unrest and political crimes 6
Illiteracy and Superstition 4.5

4. Unclear legal framework and poor execution of existing laws 5
Step-5 : Scoring Degree ofintensity and Degree ofinfluences of the Driving and
Restraining forces
Driving forces Total Score (Degree of Intensity x Degree
of Influence)
Skill and merit base of law enforcing
agencies
52.5
Sound legal and institutional framework 36
Compliances, compensation and other
motivational packages
35.75
Complete independence of the judiciary 27.5
Transparency and accountability of law
enforcing agency members
39
A higher pay scale 25
Restraining forces Total Score (Degree of Intensity x Degree
of Influence)
Politicization and hidden political agenda
of politicians
42.25
Dishonesty and Corruption 42
Political and religious terrorism 52.5
Political unrest and political crimes 33
Illiteracy and Superstition 20.25
Unclear legal framework and poor
execution of existing laws
25
Step-6 : Ranking the Driving and Restraining forces
Driving forces Rank
Skill and merit base of law enforcing agencies 1st
Sound legal and institutional framework 3rd
Compliances, compensation and other motivational packages 4th
Complete independence of the judiciary 5th
Transparency and accountability of law enforcing agency members 2nd
A higher pay scale 6th
Restraining forces Rank
Politicization and hidden political agenda of politicians 2nd
Dishonesty and Corruption 3rd
Political and religious terrorism 1st
Political unrest and political crimes 4th
Illiteracy and Superstition 6th
Unclear legal framework and poor execution of existing laws 5th

5. Step-7 : Cross-correlationgrid for the top 3variables from Driving and Restraining
forces
Restraining Forces
Driving Forces Political and
religious
terrorism
Politicization and
hidden political
agenda of politicians
Dishonesty
and
Corruption
Total
Skill and merit base of law
enforcing agencies
3 3.5 4.5 11
Transparency and
accountability of law
enforcing agency members
3.5 3.5 4.5 11.5
Sound legal and
institutional framework
3.5 4 4.5 12
Total 10 11 13.5
Step-8 : The top three variables
1. Dishonesty and Corruption
2. Sound legal and institutional framework
3. Transparency and accountability of law enforcing agency members
Step-9 : Action plan for checking “Dishonestyand Corruption” to improve current
law and order situation in Bangladesh
Action
(WHAT)
Responsibilities
(HOW)
Implementing
Authority
(WHO)
Timeframe
(WHEN)
Cost
Estimation
Setting up
office for the
Ombudsman
Setting-up office
for the
ombudsman
according to
constitutional
provision and
instruction of the
Supreme court
The president,
The parliament,
Ministry of
Law, Ministry
of Finance, The
supreme court
Within 1 year
(2014-20015)
For setting up
the office,
buying
furniture and
arrangement
and for
recruiting
office staffs;
cost-about 2
core taka
Providing
complete
autonomy to
the Anti-
Corruption
commission
Amending ACC
bill, setting-up
offices at district
level , recruit
more manpower
and importing
The president,
The parliament,
Ministry of
Home affairs,
Within 1 year
(2014-20015)
For recruiting
more men
power,
providing
necessary
traing along

6. and
strengthening
it’s mechanism
modern tools with modern
amenities and
weapons; cost-
taka 5 crore
Provide training
and
restructuring
law enforcing
agencies
(Police, RAB
etc..)
Arrange multi-
phase training,
monitoring
mechanism to
bring efficiency,
sending selected
law enforcing
members abroad
for better
training,
providing
modern weapons
and develop
infrastructure
Ministry of
Home affairs,
Prime
minister’s
office,
Bangladesh
Public
Administration
Training Centre
(BPATC),
Bangladesh
Military
Academy
(BMA),
Ministry of
Finance,
Ministry of
Foreign affairs
Within 2 years
(2014-20016)
Training at
national level
in four different
phases ; (cost-
Taka 20 crore)
and for
international
level training
(cost-taka 30
crore); for
infrastructural
development
(cost-taka 50
crore); Cost –
total 100 crore
taka
Formulate new
law or amend
existing laws
regarding law
and order
situation
Review existing
law, conduct
research to
amend existing
laws
The parliament,
Ministry of
Planning
Within 1 year
(2014-20015)
To conduct
research; cost -
20 lacs