Ethical Leadership and the Rule of Law
Baroness Nuala O’Loan, who served as the first Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, has emphasized the importance of ‘ethical leadership’ in her recent discussions. She highlighted that ethical leadership must come from the top down, with a clear code of ethics, human rights-based training, and a culture of accountability where neither police nor citizens are above the law.
During a conversation at Dhaka University’s Botany Department, she explained that ethical politicians understand that the police force is not theirs to use against people or for private ambitions. Instead, it is a service meant to protect the lives and property of the people.
“If people are breaking the law, then they are possibly committing a crime. So the police need to deal with that. If the people begin to attack the police, that’s a criminal offense. If the police attack the people – that is a criminal offense,” said Nuala O’Loan. She added that both have to be dealt with equally, as no one is superior or senior to the other.
“I think that’s the essence of what one has to say – rule of law has to operate. It’s hard, but that’s how it has to be done,” she said.
Prosecution of Police Officers
Responding to a question, Nuala O’Loan stated that if police officers have committed crimes, they must be prosecuted. “I suspect this may not have happened as often in the past, but that must happen so the police must be subject to the rule of law, just as the people.”
She also highlighted the need for strong moral principles within institutions, especially the police. The conversation also explored governance and reform in Bangladesh, emphasizing that sustainable progress depends on the rule of law, peace, and stability.
A fair and independent process for selecting members of the policing board was outlined, ensuring diversity, integrity, and independence from political or police influence.
Women’s Role in National Development
Nuala O’Loan underscored the role of women in national development, arguing that excluding half the population limits a country’s prosperity. Positive measures, such as equal recruitment and pay equity, were encouraged to promote gender inclusion and equality.
She urged students and young citizens to use their voices constructively through social media, journalism, and community engagement to inform others about reforms and promote lawful participation in nation-building.
Lessons from the Irish Experience
The discussion centered on how governments can balance the urgency of public expectations for reform with the reality that meaningful change takes time. The speaker emphasized the importance of transparency, ongoing communication, and public engagement throughout the reform process.
“You make sure your training is human rights based so the police officers know that they can only use force if it’s lawful, if it’s necessary, and they can only use proportionate force, only the force which is necessary to deal with the situation, nothing more,” she said.
She provided an example: “If somebody is running away, you have no need to shoot them. They are not a threat to life. Therefore you have no requirement to shoot them. That’s the simplest example of proportionality I can give you.”
Support for Police Reform
Ireland offers support for police reform in Bangladesh. Earlier, she delivered a public lecture at the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka on “Justice and Reform: Lessons from the Irish Experience” on Thursday, where students from various departments joined.
Ambassador of Ireland to Bangladesh Kevin Kelly, Dhaka University Treasurer Prof M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Chairman of Department of Botany Dr Ashfaque Ahmed, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh Masud Jamil Khan, and Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, among others, were present.