A new uniform for Bangladesh Police has come into effect, with members of all metropolitan police units and several specialised units, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, starting to wear it from yesterday.

However, district police have not yet received the new attire. Officials said district and range units will begin using it in phases.

The decision to change the uniform colours was made on January 20 at a law-and-order meeting at the home ministry. Under this decision, the new police uniforms will be iron-coloured.

Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DMP's media and public relations wing, said police in DMP areas switched to the new uniform yesterday. Some officers received it on Friday, while others will receive it gradually.

Bangladesh Police spokesperson AHM Sahadat Hossaine, assistant inspector general (media) at the 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 attire.

The uniform change comes as part of efforts to reform law enforcement agencies following last year's mass uprising, during which police, Rab, and Ansar were accused of using excessive force against unarmed students, leading to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5.

Along with the police, the authorities also decided that Rab would wear an olive-green uniform and Ansar a golden-wheat one. However, Ansar has requested the ministry to reconsider the golden-wheat colour.