Dhaka: Dhaka is the heart of Bangladesh. Dhaka is called the city of 52 markets and 53 streets. In a city with a population of more than two crores, various crimes are constantly happening. The police force, which keeps a sharp watch across the capital, has been largely inactive since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5. In the meantime, the country's largest police unit, DMP, has undergone massive transfers.
Many police officers have already lost their jobs and been arrested for carrying out massacres for the Awami League in the July-August coup. Many senior officers are also in hiding to avoid arrest. And all those who have joined the work are being transferred to different ranges and units outside the DMP which has an impact on field-policing. And on this occasion, the violence of criminals increased across the capital. Incidents like robbery are happening along with theft.
The officials concerned said that it was not right to transfer all those working in DMP together for a long time. Those police officers and members who are accused of direct firing or assault in the anti-discrimination movement of the Awami League government could be replaced by those who are neutral and professional and kept posted in the DMP. Because District Police and DMP policing are not the same, the crimes are different. Rather, many officials coming to DMP from different districts and ranges are not able to understand their work. They are also in trouble in providing quick service and catching the accused. One of the reasons for which is not knowing the roads and preconceived notions about the responsible area.
According to DMP sources, more than 16 thousand policemen and officers working in different units of DMP including 50 police stations have been transferred. Most of whom have already joined the new workplace.
Talking to several sub-inspectors (SIs) who have worked in different districts and remote police station areas of the country for a long time and came to DMP after transfer, it is known that there is a difference in the type of crime in remote police station and DMP police station area. DMP has to do 12 hours duty along with other routine work. As a result, in the beginning, the SIs and inspectors working in the field are losing a little under the pressure of work. Information technology as well as field sources are strength in identifying those involved in crimes occurring in DMP. But suddenly most of the SIs coming to DMP are not locally sourced. They are not able to move forward while investigating any incident. Forced to seek help from known batch mates and colleagues who have worked in DMP in the past.
Several SIs spoke to this reporter about their work experience in DMP. One of them has been transferred to DMP for the first time in his almost 12 years of service. Previously worked in a particular district for about 8 years. On the condition of anonymity, he said, "I will not work in DMP for a long time." I have posted so I came. There is a lot of work pressure. In addition to suddenly being alone away from my family, I was panting in just one month due to the pressure of day and night work. We are not used to so much work. 12 hours patrolling the car to investigate the case again. Earlier, even if I worked all day, it didn't feel like a job. And now the responsibility seems to be burdened.
This police officer said about the experience of field work, in the district where I worked, if a crime happened, it did not take time to catch the accused. And now I don't even know the road. How to arrest the accused. The defendant no longer lives on Main Street. All alleys in Dhaka city seem the same to me. I don't know anyone here. How to identify the crime? The people of the city are not afraid of the police anymore. On the contrary, we are afraid of who complains and when.
At least 22 police stations in the capital were attacked and looted on August 5. Many weapons were lost along with important documents of the police station. Statistics from the September raids at the DMP headquarters showed that 35 weapons of various models were recovered last October after the government's deadline. Most of which were recovered by the joint forces. More than 2,000 bullets were recovered at the same time. Grenades and weapon magazines were also recovered.
284 cases have been registered against policemen in Dhaka. Among them are the names of more than 100 current and former policemen. It is alleged that hundreds of policemen worked as the masterminds of shooting dead bodies in the movement. Many have been detained.
Among the policemen, the highest number of cases was against DMP's former Additional Commissioner of Police Mohammad Haroon Or Rashid, with 38. The next position is former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. There are 36 cases against him. There are 33 cases against former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, 27 against DMP Joint Police Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarkar, 11 against Special Branch Chief Monirul Islam. Most of the cases are murder cases. Additional commissioners of police, assistant commissioners of police, OCs of several police stations, inspectors, SIs and constables are also named in the case. Jatrabari police station had the highest number of cases of 91.
After August 5, 2 thousand 37 cases have been filed in 50 police stations of DMP. Out of which, 286 murder cases have been filed including cases of students being killed in the anti-discrimination movement. However, information about how many people have been arrested in these cases is not available.
Associate Professor of Social Welfare and Research Institute of Dhaka University and social and crime expert Dr. Touhidul Haque regarding the mass transfer of DMP police and new field level police officers in Dhaka said that after the July revolution, there is a pressure on the police from the expectations of the common people to restore law and order. Police transfer is nothing new. But like other big cities, Dhaka is a forest of crime. As a result, the administration has to coordinate the mix of old and new. It will take a long time for everyone to come to terms with reality. Crime control has to be coordinated. It cannot be done by any officer alone. Instead of bringing in newcomers from outside Dhaka, those against whom there are no major complaints; those who maintain morals should be kept to work. If not, the criminals will rise up from the old ones.
Regarding the service expectations of the common people on the police and what should be done to make them qualified for the work of DMP, this crime expert said, to meet the service expectations of the people, the psychological courage of the new members should be increased internally, the problems of the field officers should be heard, counseling, and what measures should be taken to speed up the work should be discussed. There is no habit of discussion within the police of our country.
When asked what to do about the current situation of the largest unit of the police, former commissioner of DMP and former additional IGP Khandkar Golam Farooq told Barta24.com that after such a big mass revolution, there is a problem in all sectors for a few days. It will take time to fix. Those who were earlier in DMP were also new. Those who are coming now will soon overcome the problem of knowing the roads.
When asked if there is any opportunity to take any action regarding the extra duty causing them mental stress, the 35th Commissioner of DMP said, those currently running the DMP can arrange for psychological counseling if they feel necessary.