A new iron-coloured uniform for Bangladesh Police has come into force, with members of all metropolitan police units and some specialised units, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), start wearing it from today.

Police officials said district and range units will adopt the new attire in phases.

The decision to change uniform colours was taken on January 20 at a law and order meeting at the home ministry.

Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DMP's media and public relations wing, told The Daily Star that police in DMP areas switched to the new uniform today. Some members received it this morning, and others will get it gradually.

AHM Shahadat Hossain, assistant inspector general (media) at Police Headquarters, said specialised units such as the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, Highway Police and River Police will also use the new uniform.

The uniform change came amid efforts to reform law enforcing-agencies following last year's mass uprising, during which police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), and Ansar were accused of using excessive force against unarmed students, leading to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.

Apart from the police, Rab has been assigned an olive-green uniform, while Ansar was designated a golden-wheat one. Ansar has requested the ministry to reconsider the colour.

Currently, around 214,000 police personnel receive three sets of uniforms annually. Rab, with about 10,000 members deputed from different forces, also receive three sets each year. Ansar, with about 51,000 generals and 17,000 battalion members, get two sets annually.