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Published : 18 Aug 2024, 11:26 PM
Two weeks after the fall of the Awami League government following mass protests, police have not yet resumed regular field duties across the country.
The idea of ‘restarting all stations’ remains stalled, limited to the presence of personnel at the stations and internal services.
The collapsed police system is currently limited to registering police complaints in the form of general diaries, or GD, at the stations
Most affected stations have not yet started accepting formal complaints.
External activities are stalled due to vehicle shortages and ongoing security concerns.
Some police stations are attempting to carry out patrols twice a day with the help of the army in their jurisdictions, which is far from adequate compared to normal operations.
Although the recent 'robbery scare' that gripped parts of Dhaka has subsided, the absence of visible police presence continues to leave the public uneasy.
Meanwhile, field-level policemen said it will take more time for investigations and the process of arresting suspects to return to normal.
Following Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country on Aug 5, the protesters' anger shifted towards the police stations.
A large number of stations were attacked, looted, and set on fire across the country.
While the government reports that 44 police officers have been killed, this figure is questioned by police personnel.
Many are still reluctant to return to stations due to fear of further attacks.
In these attacks, not only were documents and furniture destroyed, but all the vehicles at the stations were burned, and many weapons and ammunition were looted.
Since then, police operations have been effectively halted.
Many policemen, who had been in hiding, made an 11-point demand to return to work.
On Aug 11, police personnel conferred with home advisor M Sakhawat Hussain and received assurances regarding their demands.
The following day, they resumed their duties, and traffic police began managing road traffic again.
According to a statement from the Police Headquarters on Aug 15, all 639 police stations across Bangladesh have resumed operations, including 110 metropolitan police stations and 529 district police stations, as well as 24 railway police stations.
However, many affected stations lack essential equipment and vehicles.
With power supplies not yet restored, some stations are using makeshift power connections.
Computers have been destroyed or looted, and remaining ones lack internet access.
As uniforms were also burnt, some police personnel are attempting to handle GD entries in plain clothes.
Even stations that were not damaged have faced transportation issues while assisting affected stations.
While some officers are present in uniform, they are hesitant to engage in outdoor operational activities.
The number of patrol vehicles has been reduced, with more officers assigned to each vehicle, patrolling twice daily with army assistance.
In emergencies, they are making efforts to provide services outside the station.
POLICE ABSENT IN THE FIELD
On Friday and Saturday nights, policemen were conspicuously absent in several areas of Dhaka, including Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Dhanmondi, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, and Mohammadpur.
There were no checkpoints on major roads, and no patrol vehicles were observed.
Army patrols occasionally passed through, helping to maintain some level of normalcy.
Following the government’s fall, a series of robberies created widespread alarm in Dhaka for four to five consecutive nights.
With the absence of police, local residents have banded together to guard their neighborhoods throughout the night.
Although the army's presence has reduced the robbery fears, police are still missing from the streets.
An ATM security guard on Ring Road said, "There used to be a police checkpoint right in front of my booth all night. Now, without police presence for a long time, I am constantly worried about what might happen."
Zakir, a shopkeeper in the same area, who gave a single name, said:"I used to keep my shop open late. Although the robbery scare has decreased, there are still reports of extortion in various areas. If something happens, police are hard to reach. That’s why I no longer keep my shop open late."
HOW THE DAMAGED POLICE STATIONS ARE OPERATING
On Saturday, at Dhaka's Adabor Police Station, piles of burnt police uniforms, office furniture, and vehicles were stacked outside.
Inside, on the second floor, the duty officer’s room, the police lock-up, and the station chief’s room were amidst the wreckage.
A duty officer was providing services at a small table and chair in an empty room.
Jahnara Begum, a resident of Adabor, sought police help for her 13-year-old son, Shamim, who went missing on Aug 5.
The duty officer, Sub-Inspector Selim Reza, assisted her in filing a GD.
"We're doing our best to assist everyone who comes to the station. No one is being turned away, and currently, we're only handling GD activities through manual processes," said SI Selim.
