Police return to ensure law and order, control traffic

The Bangladesh Police resumed operations in almost all its stations nationwide to restore law and order and manage traffic after a weeklong halt since a mass uprising ousted the Awami League government on 5 August.

However, due to damage to infrastructure from recent violence, police operations have not yet fully resumed.

Meanwhile, sources within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said some top officials affiliated with the Awami League had not yet returned to their posts.

In the capital, around 95% of the police force at some stations reported for duty, as per DMP sources.

The traffic police also resumed control of street intersections today with students, who had managed traffic over the past few days. They students welcomed the returning officers with garlands of flowers in some areas of the city.

Today, students and police were seen collaborating in key areas in Dhaka.

After the fall of the Hasina government on 5 August due to mass protests, for the first time in the country's history, all police stations were closed for at least four days.

Although limited operations were restored at some police stations, the department could not fully resume its functions because members of the force were on a work abstention to press their 11-point demands.

The abstention was lifted on Sunday night after the government assured that their demands would be met.

According to police headquarters, operations resumed at 628 police stations out of 639 across the country today.

In the metropolitan areas, 108 out of 110 police stations have resumed operations as policemen, who were observing a work abstention, rejoined work today.

In other areas of the country, out of the 529 district police stations, 520 have resumed activities, said the police headquarters.

The remaining 11 police stations failed to resume operations as those were completely damaged and all necessary logistics, furniture and other equipment were destroyed, the police HQ said in the statement.

"It will be possible to start the activities of these 11 police stations in the next 2-3 days," added the press statement.

No trace of DMP's AL affiliated top officials

Former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, along with Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Haroon Or Rashid, Joint Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarkar, Khandkar Noorannabi, and at least 57 other senior officials known to be pro-Awami League and closely connected to the government, have not yet reported to the office.

The list of absent top officials also includes senior policemen ranging from Additional Deputy Commissioner to Additional IGP.

Sources indicate that, with the exception of Additional Commissioner Khandkar Mohiduddin and Joint Commissioner Sanjit Chandra Roy, most senior police officers who held key positions under the previous government have not reported for duty.

Colleagues are unable to locate them, and many have their phones switched off.

Only crime department members worked in full swing at the DMP headquarters today.

When asked about the absent top officials, DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan said, "We have not been able to know why they have not returned to work yet. We do not have any information about them. We hope they will return to work soon."

At the DMP headquarters today, it was observed that police personnel reported for duty in plain clothes.

Additionally, the DMP logo and police stickers had been removed from the vehicles used to transport them, and hired microbuses were providing transportation to the officers.

Meanwhile, most officers in the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police did not report for duty on Monday.

According to DMP sources, five additional officers have already been removed, and five new officers have been appointed.

Traffic police back in Dhaka

Today, some traffic policemen were observed on duty at the Holy Family Care Hospital intersection in the Eskaton area of the capital, where a small group of five students greeted them with garlands of flowers.

Students were also seen assisting traffic police with managing traffic in the Rampura area, near the burnt traffic box adjacent to Rampura Bridge. However, the number of students helping with traffic control was lower than in previous days.

A traffic sergeant on duty, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "We have resumed our duties to help keep the city functioning. However, some traffic officers have not yet returned. Once everyone is back, we will be able to fully resume our work."

"Students are helping us with our work, but we have no place to rest since all our traffic boxes have been torched and damaged," he added. "Quick repairs to these boxes will improve our efficiency."

In the Gulshan-1 area, traffic policemen were seen working alongside students, and the public responded positively, with people shaking hands and expressing their appreciation.

A similar scene was observed at key intersections across several areas, including Bijoy Soroni, Farmgate, Banglamotor, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, and Science Club.

In other parts of the country

Policemen began returning to Sylhet police stations today, leading to increased activity at the stations. Traffic police also resumed their duties.

The Kotwali police station in Sylhet remained visibly damaged from the violence during the quota reform protests. Vandalism was evident throughout the station. Nevertheless, operations have resumed, with Ansar members present to assist.

The new Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali police station, Mohammad Nunu Mia, said, "Our police station has about 75 staff members. Around 20-25 have returned to work so far, and the rest are expected to join soon. Some were unable to come today due to bad weather."

Meanwhile, traffic policemen were observed working on some city streets, though their numbers were quite limited. Additionally, students were seen helping with traffic control at certain intersections.

The Boalia Model Police Station in Rajshahi, which had been set on fire, has resumed operations, although officers arrived in civilian clothing. Army and Ansar personnel were also present at the main gate of the station providing security.

Boalia Model Police Station OC (Investigation) Amirul Islam said the station has resumed activities, including recording general diaries (GDs) and handling cases.

Meanwhile, Bogura Superintendent of Police Zakir Hasan said today that operations resumed at all 12 police stations in the district.

Additionally, eight days after the mass uprising that led to the ousting of the Awami League government, the Bogura traffic police returned to the streets to manage vehicle control.