Ireland Pledges Support for Police Reform in Bangladesh

Ireland has expressed its readiness to share experience and expertise in police reform to support Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountable and rights-based governance following the July 2024 uprising.

Non-resident Ambassador of Ireland to Bangladesh, Kevin Kelly, and Baroness Nuala O’Loan, the first Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland, proposed the collaboration during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Baroness O’Loan, on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, served as Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman for seven years following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended a prolonged period of conflict in the country. She led the office during a formative phase when new mechanisms of police accountability and public trust were being established.

“Ireland’s post-conflict experience offers valuable lessons in patience, inclusion, and the long-term nature of institutional reform,” Baroness O’Loan said. “We are here to share grounded experience and realistic timelines for sustainable change.”

She was accompanied by Fionnuala Gilsenan, Director of the Peace and Stability Unit at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, was also present.

Chief Adviser Professor Yunus welcomed Ireland’s initiative and expressed appreciation for the country’s continued engagement in supporting Bangladesh’s reform and transition processes.

“We highly value Ireland’s support in ensuring that our ongoing transition remains peaceful, democratic, and accountable,” Professor Yunus said.

Professor Yunus also sought Ambassador Kelly’s cooperation in addressing disinformation ahead of Bangladesh’s forthcoming national election in February 2026.

Ambassador Kelly reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Bangladesh, noting that both nations share a strong dedication to peace, justice, and democratic values.