Policing, Public Trust, and Democratic Accountability: A Comparative Legal Analysis of Bangladesh and the Western Balkans

Abstract

This research article compares the legal systems of Bangladesh with selected Western Balkan nations in terms of police accountability and public confidence. The study examines the scientific subject of transitional democracies’ challenges to democratise law enforcement, which are hampered by institutionalised authoritarian legacies, legislative flaws, and ineffective monitoring institutions. The analysis employs qualitative, doctrinal, and comparative research methods to investigate linked issues such as police legislation, abuse of authority, communitybased policing, and democratic accountability. The research contends that, while both areas face structural and political impediments to law enforcement reform, Western Balkan governments, influenced by EU integration demands, have made more substantial achievements in institutionalising democratic supervision systems. The objective is to propose legislative and policy-driven reform plans that strengthen police legitimacy and democratic governance. This study is unique in that it includes cross-regional comparison studies, which are uncommon in the policing research. The scope of work includes substantial legal paperwork, institutional frameworks, and policy creation. The findings have significant cognitive value for both academic discourse and field practice, particularly in transforming policing institutions in transitional cultures.