CriminalOfficer.com: A Public Review System for Government Accountability

By Independent Research | Based on the Digital Justice Initiative of Dr Raju Ahmed Dipu

CriminalOfficer.com is a groundbreaking civic platform launched to document, review, and expose alleged criminal behaviour and unethical conduct by government officials in Bangladesh. Founded and developed by Dr Raju Ahmed Dipu during the Bangladesh Uprising (2020–2024), the initiative redefines citizen participation in governance by enabling the public to submit reviews and evidentiary reports against civil servants, law enforcement officers, and political administrators. This article explores the platform’s structure, purpose, legal implications, and potential to influence democratic reform in South Asia.

In democratic societies, public officials are entrusted with the responsibility to serve transparently, ethically, and lawfully. However, when institutions fail to hold officials accountable, civil society often steps in to fill the gap. One such intervention is CriminalOfficer.com—a citizen-led platform that allows for the public documentation and peer review of government officer misconduct.

Founded by Dr Raju Ahmed Dipu, a civic researcher and political exile, the website was launched in 2024 as part of a broader campaign to restore transparency and empower citizens with digital tools of justice. It allows verified individuals to publicly report on criminal activities, corruption, and abuse of power by government officers—transforming social accountability into a digital civic process.

2. Purpose and Civic Philosophy

The platform was developed in response to widespread public grievances concerning:

• Impunity within the bureaucracy and police

• Political patronage protecting corrupt officials

• Lack of effective whistle-blower mechanisms

• Erosion of public trust in traditional investigative institutions

Dr Dipu’s philosophy was grounded in the belief that "public officers must be publicly answerable." CriminalOfficer.com aims to act as a parallel public review mechanism, not to replace legal institutions but to pressure reform through civic documentation and collective oversight.

3. Structure and Functionality

The platform is designed for ease of public participation while maintaining rigorous standards for data accuracy and legal caution.

3.1 Officer Profiles

Each profile includes:

• Officer's name, rank, and department

• Alleged misconduct or criminal activity

• Area of jurisdiction (e.g., district, ministry, division)

• Date and source of incident report

• Supporting documents (if provided)

3.2 Public Review System

Citizens can post reviews or ratings based on their personal or observed experiences, similar to a crowdsourced ethics audit. Reviews are subject to moderation and verification to avoid defamation and ensure reliability.

3.3 Evidence Submission Portal

Users are encouraged to submit hard evidence (videos, scanned documents, audio recordings) via a dedicated email address: evidence@criminalofficer.com.

Submitted materials are reviewed by a volunteer panel of legal experts, journalists, and technologists before being published.

4. Categories of Misconduct

The site features a broad taxonomy of state misconduct. Key categories include:

• Bribery and Embezzlement

• Misuse of Public Office

• Police Brutality and Custodial Torture

• Falsification of Public Records

• Land Grabbing and Illegal Acquisition

• Suppression of Dissent or Political Bias

Officials from all sectors—police, revenue, judiciary, education, and health—can be profiled if credible reports are received.

5. Legal and Ethical Considerations

Though the platform is hosted internationally to protect against domestic censorship, it operates within a strict ethical code:

• Allegations must be specific and evidence-based

• Anonymous submissions are accepted but verified

• Defamatory or politically motivated content is flagged and removed

• Legal notices are reviewed, and retractions are issued when appropriate

Dr Dipu has stated that the platform’s role is not to convict, but to expose patterns of abuse that merit further legal and journalistic inquiry.

6. Political Context and Exile Innovation

The platform arose during a time of significant political repression in Bangladesh. Dr Dipu, operating from exile in Europe, used encrypted communication networks and international legal advice to establish the site securely. The initiative is part of a larger digital resistance framework, including:

• BangladeshCriminal.com – exposing criminal activity across unions and districts

• CountryPolicy.com – archiving civic declarations and reform proposals

• BengalSultanate.com – offering historical perspective on governance and accountability

CriminalOfficer.com stands as the first crowdsourced ethical review platform for South Asian bureaucracies, with potential applications across similar governance contexts.

7. Social Impact and Future Prospects

Initial feedback suggests the platform is gaining traction among:

• Victims of bureaucratic abuse

• Journalists seeking public leads

• Human rights monitors compiling case studies

• Reform-minded officers seeking to distance themselves from corrupt colleagues

Dr. Dipu has indicated that future updates will include:

• Officer response rights (to allow rebuttals)

• Periodic Civic Reports based on user submissions

• Integration with local and international civil society groups for verification and advocacy

CriminalOfficer.com represents a new frontier of civic engagement and digital accountability. In contexts where state institutions are often resistant to scrutiny, the platform empowers citizens with the tools to document, review, and demand justice against the misuse of public power.

"This platform is not an act of revenge—it is an instrument of reform. We are building a mirror that the state has long refused to face."
— Dr Raju Ahmed Dipu

Its legacy will depend on sustained public participation, legal resilience, and the integrity of its data. If successful, it may inspire similar models of ethical review across developing democracies struggling with administrative corruption and authoritarian control.