Cars torched, weapons looted: How will police protect people after Bangladesh uprising?

Damage and gear shortages are hampering police efforts to deal with suspects and enforce the law

Police stations in Dhaka are facing severe operational difficulties as they struggle to cope with the aftermath of violent protests.

Access to Tejgaon Police Station in Dhaka was restricted by Ansar personnel at the gate.

Inside, there were only army personnel and a few plain-clothed police personnel.

Not a single uniformed officer was present.

The rooms of the chief of the station and duty officer were empty and nearly dark.

One inspector’s room was locked, while another inspector in plain clothes sat at his desk.

This was the scene at Tejgaon Police Station on Saturday afternoon, despite official statements indicating that police activities had resumed since Friday.

According to the Police Headquarters, as of Sunday afternoon, 599 out of 639 police stations nationwide had resumed operations, including 97 out of 110 in metropolitan areas and 502 out of 529 in district-level stations.

However, there is a stark difference between the reopening of the police stations and the resumption of normal operations, as indicated by police officials.

Even with all police personnel back at work, it is difficult to say how much the situation will improve.

Reports from various stations in Dhaka reveal that while some have resumed operations, they are only registering general diaries.

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 42 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.

The exact number of vehicles burned and weapons stolen is yet to be determined, according to a senior official at the Police Headquarters.

Assistant Inspector General (Media) Enamul Haque Sagor told bdnews24.com, "Work is under way on this matter, further details will be available soon."

However, several police officers expressed their concern about the stolen weapons.

They are worried that if these weapons fall into the hands of criminals, it could pose a significant threat to public safety.

Given that it is almost impossible for police to operate normally, it will also be difficult to control criminals.

Similar scenes are reported at other stations, including Narsingdi and Rangpur, where reporters describe a lack of visible police presence.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DETAINED

On Saturday, a police official at Tejgaon Police Station expressed frustration over handling two alleged muggers handed over by the army. But there were no arrangements to send them to court.

“Where should we send these muggers? We have no force, no vehicles, no security. Court proceedings are not normal either,” he said.

When asked what would be done with them, he replied: “We’ll see what can be done after discussing it with senior authorities.”

However, the views of senior authorities are also not normal.

A deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told bdnews24.com that he is not going to the office.

When asked why, he said: “There is no office order. But an officer has taken my SIM card, which means I am no longer posted there. I will go to a new posting if a new order is issued.”

Later, it was reported that the two muggers had been released.

On Sunday afternoon, a woman passenger on a bus in Asadgate was harassed.

The public caught and beat the alleged harasser and alerted the army.

However, the army had no legal authority to detain him, so he was released.

This area falls under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, where only a limited number of police personnel have returned.

An officer, who requested anonymity, said: “How can we go, and what can we do with him? We have no vehicles to bring suspects, as everything has been burned.”

“We would need to send him to court within 24 hours, but how will we do that?”

In the evening, a group of people vandalised several vehicles and attempted looting in Tejgaon.

Local residents intervened and detained them.

When the army was notified, they arrived at the scene, but no police personnel were present, so the suspects could not be arrested.

Mohammad Mohsin, chief of Tejgaon Police Station, told bdnews24.com: “We have not received any such information.”

Moshiur Rahman, chief of Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station, said: "Even if we receive information, we are not in a position to go. Today, we only cleared the debris from the burnt."

Since the government’s fall, attempts by the public to apprehend robbers in Dhaka and beyond have largely been ineffective, with few legal actions being taken against those detained.

COURT PROCEEDINGS STALLED

According to information from judicial court staff in Dhaka, no new defendants are being processed.

An assistant superintendent of police from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's prosecution department said: “Court desk activities are ongoing. However, no defendants or case files are coming from the police stations.”

When asked about the current situation, he said: "Some bail grants and cancellations are being processed, but they all pertain to previous cases."

The situation is similarly dire at prisons, where suspects are not being transferred to courts due to security concerns.

Only paperwork is being handled.

Despite police presence in the court premises, no uniformed officers are visible, and the official requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Although police are present on court premises, no officers are in uniform due to fear, according to the official.

He even requested that his identity be kept confidential.

LAWLESSNESS AND LOOTING

On the night of the government's fall, some police personnel at various stations in Dhaka surrendered to the army or sought refuge at the Rajarbagh Police Lines by firing blank shots into the air.

The following day, the absence of police created unprecedented security concerns across Bangladesh.

Many people nationwide are spending sleepless nights to prevent robbers from looting.

Across the country, there are reports of looting not only of Awami League leaders' homes, business establishments, and shops but also of ordinary people's farms.

The lack of police presence has prevented any action from being taken.

In Narayanganj, the Hazi Group's goods were looted by truck, three-wheeler, and other vehicles without restraint.

Zakir Hossain, a professor of Japan's Gumna University, had built a resort in Ishwardi, Pabna.

He does not reside in the country, and his brother manages it. The family is not involved in politics.

But the resort has been extensively vandalised and looted.

Zakir expressed his frustration on Facebook post: “A dream built from a migrant’s hard-earned money. This is my dream abode. During this unstable period, some identified criminals have looted and burned it down under the cover of darkness.

“Despite the damage, I want to see the rule of law in the country and exemplary punishment for every criminal involved in this vandalism.”

Ahsanul Kobir Dalim, a former World Vision worker turned agricultural entrepreneur, has no political affiliations but was involved with the Ganajagaran Mancha movement.

Seven years ago, he established a farm in Bogura. His initiative ‘Korshon’ has gained significant attention for introducing black sugarcane from the Philippines and cultivating early-season fruits and vegetables.

The farm also includes a dairy operation, a library, and a net polyhouse, aiming to revolutionise agriculture in the area.

At night, his farm was attacked, and three cows, Tk 1.15 million, two refrigerators, furniture, camera, and a laptop were stolen.

The remaining infrastructure was burned, and the library and farm were ransacked.

Dalim told bdnews24.com, “I recognise seven to eight of them, who are linked with the BNP and Shibir. The remaining 18 to 20 were masked.”

"They were asking me 'where is your Ganajagaran Mancha?'’’

POLICE NOW SEEK SECURITY

In a reversal of roles, police, typically tasked with ensuring public safety, now find themselves under the protection of the army, Border Guard Bangladesh, and even Ansar members.

The few uniformed officers who remain in designated areas are unable to perform their duties effectively due to security concerns.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an officer from Tejgaon Police Station said safety concerns have kept him from wearing his uniform at the station.

"You understand, students are still on the streets controlling traffic. Our superiors have instructed us to prioritise our safety," he said.

At the same police station, an army member approached the officer to ask whether a civilian could enter the station to retrieve a confiscated mobile phone.

The officer granted permission but advised the army member to consult with the officer who had seized the phone.

The damage to Tejgaon Police Station has been minimal compared with other areas, with only a few vehicles vandalised.

However, the police station’s chief, Mohammad Mohsin, has not reported to work since Aug 5, and he is unreachable on the mobile phone.

The situation at Mohammadpur Police Station is dire, as the entire station has been burnt down, rendering it inoperable.

A similar fate has befallen Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

At both locations, Ansar members were seen guarding the charred buildings and destroyed vehicles, while onlookers gathered outside.

Attempts to contact the chiefs of these stations were unsuccessful, as both their personal and official phones were switched off.

The deputy commissioners overseeing these areas were also unreachable, with their phones turned off.

A senior officer from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime or CTTC unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, who requested that he not be named for security reasons, said he briefly visited his office on Saturday but quickly left.

Several officers have returned to work at CTTC, but the unit's chief, Md Asaduzzaman, has not, and his phone remains switched off.

The officer, who previously worked in the DMP's crime division, said: "Police's morale has been shattered; it will take time to recover."

A Tejgaon Division inspector, contacted via his personal phone, said he was resting on medical advice.

"I wore the same uniform for four consecutive nights during the unrest, without even bathing. I was injured, so I am resting now," he said.

Despite new Inspector General of Police Md Mainul Islam's directive for officers to return to work after assuming office on Aug 6, the majority of police personnel have yet to heed the order.

Home Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain has given police officers until Thursday to return to duty, warning that those who fail to comply will be declared absconders.

To restore confidence among police, the government has instructed the formation of a Citizen Security Committee comprising coordinators from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which called for the government ouster.

Police personnel have submitted 11 demands to the IGP, including

• Justice for officers killed during the student movement,

• Ensuring impartiality in police duties,

• limiting work hours to eight per day,

• a new pay structure,

• increasing annual leave from 20 to 60 days,

• extending source money to lower-ranked employees, and

• raising risk allowances.

Jahangir Alam, a secretary at the Public Security Division under the home ministry, told bdnews24.com:" Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has assured us that feasible demands will be addressed, with the remaining issues to be handled by the IGP in due course.

"He also said police are expected to resume their duties starting Monday.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi and Fariha Bristy]