The idea, according to Mazharal Haque, the vice-principal of Bangladesh's top policeacademy, is to turn this batchof new recruits into world-classpolice leaders, fit to serve in United Nations peacekeepingmissions anywhere on the planet.

They have just received lessons in grooming, personal hygiene, physical fitness, skin care, diet and dining etiquette.

Kaniz Almas Khan, who runs a chain of smart beauty parlours in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka as well as in Thailand, was also invited to show the new recruits how to wear clothes in matching colours.

She also gave the 140 men and women a lesson in how to choose a good perfume and aftershave. She was quoted by the French press agency AFP as saying that the male officers were just as keen as the female officers, if not more, on looking good.

“I was surprised to be asked”, she said, “But it's great that people are becoming more conscious of their looks”.