Country vulnerable as police leave stations

Chain of command broken

Mahfuja Mukul: The top police officials went into hiding soon after Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country in the face of the student uprising. In this, the chain of command of the police force has been broken since last Monday afternoon.
However, the field level members of the force took positions at various police stations and police lines. The angry crowd surrounded the police station and started attacking, but the police fired back. There were casualties in various police stations. At one point, the police station and establishment force also went into hiding.
However, even though there are policemen in the barracks of Rajarbagh Police Lines, they have announced a strike. Field-level police officers are taking to social media to lash out at higher-ups. Almost all police stations in the country, including the capital Dhaka, were without police on Tuesday. There were no policemen at the police headquarters, Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters and the detective (DB) office.
Police activities were not seen in important state facilities including the airport.
However, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) has informed that BGB, RAB, Police, Coast Guard and Ansar are assisting with Army, Navy and Air Force to maintain law and order across the country.
Meanwhile, Ansar and Village Defense Forces informed that Ansar forces members have been given the responsibility of police station, airport and traffic control in the ongoing situation.
Moynul Islam has taken over the charge of new Inspector General of Police (IGP).In a message, specifically requested all members of the police to be patient and maintain their own security with strong morale. He also expressed hope that the situation will become normal soon with everyone’s cooperation. The message of the IGP was sent from the police headquarters yesterday.
Meanwhile, a message spread on social media regarding ‘leave to all members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’ is not correct, said the police headquarters.
The message spread in the name of DMP Joint Commissioner (Transport) Police ABM Masud said, “Police Commissioner Sir has just called. Sir has asked to give leave to all forces. No one has to take CC for holidays. All forces will remain on leave until further orders.
Yesterday night, the media wing of the police headquarters informed, “All the forces of the DMP have been given leave – the news circulated on social media is not correct.”
The field level police officers who are in hiding say, without revealing their names, that the senior officers left them in the field and went into hiding. The field force and officers are disoriented without any instructions. They are terrified by the brutal killing of policemen and looting of weapons by attacking various police stations. They are forced to go into hiding to save their lives.
Many of the officers at this level of the police have posted blood-stained police logos on their Facebook saying that they will not go on duty until security is assured.
An OC of a police station in the capital said that thousands of people pelted bricks like rain in his police station. Shots started coming from outside. At one point the police station was set on fire. The police started firing in self-defense. Unable to endure that, they took off their clothes and ran away. Those who could not escape were brutally massacred.
According to police sources, many constables to inspector rank who escaped from various police stations and establishments have taken refuge in Rajarbagh Police Lines. In addition to those members, members of the barracks raised various slogans against the senior officers in Rajarbagh Police Lines throughout the day. They chanted ‘No Safety, No Duty’ and said, ‘There is no problem with the public or the students. Senior officials have faced their people to defend their positions. Officials can get away but now ordinary members are being affected. They will not go on duty if they do not get security.
Daily Industry spoke to at least two senior officers of the Thana police in secret. They said, they performed the duty to protect life and property; But now the policemen are being attacked. Policemen are being brutally killed. In such situations, they are safe to save their lives.
Yesterday, I went to the police headquarters and found that there is no policeman in the entire headquarters area. Only a few unarmed security guards of the Police Trust are on duty. Anyone can enter the office. Inside, it is seen that some cars have been set on fire. Many cars were vandalized. The doors and windows of the two buildings were extensively vandalized. However, no one was seen at the gate or inside the DB office on Minto Road in the capital.
The new IGP said, “The patriotic army is cooperating with us (police force) wholeheartedly to ensure the security of police installations and police.”
Requesting the policemen to have strong morale and ensure their own safety, he said, “Maximum efforts are being taken to logically solve the various problems and demands raised by the members of the Bangladesh Police. I specially request all the members of the police to maintain their own safety and perform their duties patiently with strong morale. I hope that with everyone’s cooperation, the situation will become normal soon.
The police chief said, “I pray for the forgiveness of the souls of the members of the Bangladesh Police who lost their lives while performing their duties professionally to protect the lives and property of the people. My deepest condolences to their bereaved families. All kinds of treatment will be ensured for those who are under treatment in different places in injured state.
Press Conference in the Name of ‘Aggrieved’ Police Officers: Meanwhile, a press conference was held under the banner of ‘Aggrieved Police Officers’ at the police mess at Iskaton Garden in the capital yesterday. It is said that the chain of command of the police is broken. Therefore, Additional IGP of Police AKM Shahidur Rahman was appointed as the focal point to communicate.
Dismissed DIG of Police Khan Saeed Hasan addressed the press conference. He claimed that there is still no one to command the police. He has been kept in contact with the policemen. The police will be reorganized and the subordinate officers of the dictatorial government will be brought to justice.
He said, we discussed the incidents of police killing, arson, looting and other general issues. Apart from this the to-dos are discussed in detail. In the current situation, the police chain of command has broken down. As a result, it has been unanimously decided to appoint Additional Inspector General of Police and new Director General of RAB AKM Shahidur Rahman as a contract point for communication with all units of Bangladesh Police in order to continue the activities in various units of the police.
Addressing the students, he said, your primary victory has been achieved. But 80 percent of the policemen who were innocent, they just followed orders, there was nothing wrong with them. Because of some officials these innocent police are forced to follow their orders.
Eleven point demand of the field level police: Meanwhile, 11 point demand has been given by the members of the field level police. In this, the police strike was announced until the trial of the policemen who died in the anti-discrimination student movement. In the second phase, it is said that the police will not work under any government, but will serve the people by playing a neutral role. Police will not give protocol to any MP-minister, not protocol to any senior officer. There is also a demand that duty will not be done for more than 8 hours. Providing quick promotion to lower employees just as superiors get fast promotion, increasing police leave from 20 days to 60 days, providing source money for constables like officers, ensuring too bills to police by 10th of every month, increasing police risk allowance and Every member is demanded to be transferred to his own rank.
Meanwhile, a press release was given anonymously on the pad of ‘Bangladesh Police Association’, an organization of non-cadre police officers. It said, ‘We congratulate all the soldiers of the anti-discrimination student movement for uprooting dictatorship from the country.’
Noting that hundreds of policemen were killed, it said, “We believe this is not the work of any student.” Undoubtedly the work of some miscreants.
The president of that organization is Uttara-paschim police station OC BM Farman Ali and the general secretary is Gulshan police station OC Mazharul Islam. But the press release did not have their signature. Both officers could not be reached for comment as they were in hiding. A mobile number was given on the pad of the organization but it was found to be switched off.
Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General (IGP) AKM Shahidur Rahman has taken charge as the focal person of the police as the officials have not come to the office and are hiding. He said that efforts are being made to restore the chain of command in the police. He said this at a press conference organized jointly with senior and subordinate police officers at Rajarbagh yesterday at 8:30 pm.
Shahidur Rahman said, “Right now I am staying at Rajarbagh police line. General policemen have been killed and injured in different police station areas of DMP, whose bodies are lying in different police stations, we are trying to rescue them. We have brought many to the Rajarbagh police line.
He said, “We are making arrangements to cremate the bodies and send them to their respective addresses for burial as soon as possible.” We are going through a transitional period. I would request my dear colleagues, wherever you live in Bangladesh, to gradually strengthen your security. I would request the unit commanders, gradually considering the situation, you will continue to be engaged in each work place.
Referring to a rumor of a strike being circulated on social media, he said, “Police are people’s friends, they work for the people. We cannot think of a society without the police. So, I request our policemen once again, do not listen to all these rumors and after your safety is assured, you will join your respective work places.
When asked how many people are missing in DMP, he said, “We are not able to give accurate statistics in DMP so far.” We are still busy with it. The police are the people. The police will stand by the people-that is expected; But after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the country, the police became the target of the first victims.
Police headquarters, DMP headquarters, DB office, police station and other large installations remain unguarded. When asked whether you will arrange security there or not, he said, we are trying to ensure security as soon as possible. Today many of our members have gone into hiding for security reasons. We are trying to bring them back safely. We will try to get the police to do it on their own. We are asking for help from the army, requested several times. They are taking necessary measures.