Bangladesh Police Academy, Sardah

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Bangladesh Police Academy (former Police Academy, Sardah), is a hundred year old, luminous and prestigious police training institute. It is the Alma Mater of police training in Bangladesh, is one of the oldest training institutes in the Indian subcontinent. The academy has produced hundreds of officers in the police cadre in undivided India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was established in 1912 at a place Sardah at Charghat police station in Rajshahi district on the bank of the mighty & beautiful Padma river dividing the Bengal into the East and the West. Major H. Chamney was the founder principal of this historic Police Academy.

The necessity for imparting formal training to policemen was first felt in Bengal in 1893 when an experimental course of instruction limited to a period of 12 months was tried at Mill Barrack in Dhaka. The experimentation however proved positive. In the meantime, the Indian Police Commission of 1902 also recommended establishment of a Provincial Training College. So, the Police Training School at Mill Barrack, Dhaka, was transformed into Provincial Institution in 1906. Under the direction of this Commission the Police Training School was upgraded into a Police Training College. The number of the trainees increased and went beyond the physical and training capacity of the college. On this backdrop, the concerned authority was looking for a large suitable site to move the Police Training College.

Major Chamney, who was appointed the Principal of the proposed College, during a steamer voyage from Dhaka to Kolkata, discovered the present site of the Academy with its excellent geo- natural location and the then shadowy canopy of giant rain trees, mango grooves, wood-land, stillness and the mighty river Padma running by. Mr. Chamney shared his observations with the government. On his recommendation the site with an area of 142.66 acres of land was purchased by the Govt. at a cost of TK.25,000/- from its owner Medinipur Zamindari Estate. The institution was opened in July, 1912 styled as 'Sardah Police Training Center'.

The existing buildings and hutments of the Indigo planters- once headquarters of 152 Nilkutis of Rajshahi region- solved the immediate accommodation problem. But the area was full of dense jungles infested with ferocious animals like tigers and leopards constantly harassing the neighborhood. The place was called 'Sher-Dah' meaning the village of tigers, Sardah is its distorted version. Another story runs in the area that to protect the area from the attack and invasion of Maratha Pirates, Nabab Murshid Kuli Khan and Nabab Alibardi Khan settled camps with troops in Sardah. Sardah also means, the biggest village.

In July 1912, the College was established at Sardah to meet police training requirements in Bengal and Assam. Sardah became the training hub for all Police officers and other ranks of Bengal-Assam Police. After partition of India in August 1947, the institution became the Training College for the elite P.S.P Officers of the then Pakistan Govt. In the year 1962 it was declared as Police Academy, Sarda by the then president Field Marshal Ayub Khan who was visiting the Academy as Chief Guest in its Golden Jubily. In 2007, it was re-named Bangladesh Police Academy.

The 142.66 acres of land of Police Academy was crowned with the grandeur of marvelous natural beauty. Various magnificent establishments like- Parade ground, Principal’s Bungalow, Vice Principal’s Bungalow, Bungalows of two SPs, Administrative Building, Academic Building, Officers’ Mess, ASP (probationary) Dormitory, Trainee SI & Constables’ Dormitory, VIP Guest House, Chamney Memorial Auditorium, Hospital, horse riding tracks and Prayer hall/Mosque were built.

Now, an officer of the rank of The Deputy Inspector General of police is employed as the Principal of this prestigious Police Academy.

The Academy offers following Courses:

1. Basic Course:
Duration

a. ASP (Probationary) 12 months
b.Outside Cadet Sub Inspector 12 months
c. Departmental Cadet Sub Inspector 06 months
d. Sergeants 06 months
e. Recruit Constables 06 months
f. Regular Constables 06 months
g. Rider (Constables) 06 months
h. Drummers (Constables) 06 months

2. Refreshers’ Courses:
Duration

a. Junior Staff Course (Departmental promotee ASP) 04 weeks
b. Preliminary Staff Course (Inspector Unarmed) 06 weeks
c. Preliminary Staff Course (Inspector Armed) 06 weeks
d. SI (Unarmed) 08 weeks
e. SI (Armed) 08 weeks
f. Sergeant / TSI 08 weeks
g. ASI 08 weeks
h. Head Constable (Unarmed) 08 weeks
i. Head Constable (Armed) 08 weeks

3. Specialized Courses:
Duration

a. Training of Trainers’ Course 24 days
b. Section Leaders’ Course (Head Constable – Armed) 04 months
c. Course of reproductive health and gender issue 15 days
d. NSI & Railway Security Course (sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs) 06 months