With the 12th national parliamentary election approaching fast, Bangladesh, including its capital, is experiencing escalating political instability, primarily due to ongoing opposition party programs.
The situation has significantly amplified the pressure on law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, to maintain law and order.
Besides monitoring anti-government activities, there is also an increased focus on keeping track of various activities of politicians, leading to the arrest of some on different charges.
However, due to the prioritization of political events, concerns have been raised about the police's ability to address common crimes like theft and robbery effectively.
However, the authorities deny these claims saying that they remain active in monitoring political events while still handling other criminal matters without any apparent deficiencies.
Political unrest on focus
Reports from various police stations in the capital city indicate that the ongoing strikes and blockades by opposition parties demand the continuous presence of officials and law enforcement members in the field.
In response, supervising officers, such as sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, are actively involved in vigilance within their respective areas.
The department chiefs, assistant department chiefs, and assistant chiefs overseeing the concerned areas, along with the officers-in-charge of the police stations, are directly involved in these operations.
Police sources reveal a series of recent murders in the capital related to political conflicts, necessitating additional field time for officials to investigate these killings and address various political issues. This has resulted in a slight decline in the prevention of incidents like robbery due to reduced regular patrolling.
Following nationwide strikes and blockades, cases of clashes during the opposition party's mass rally have been filed in various police stations in the capital.
The disturbances during these events have led to vehicle burnings, vandalism of different vehicles, including those of the fire service, and instances of clashes.
Increased duty time
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has instructed all personnel to remain active in the field to prevent destructive activities during these strike-blockade periods, with senior officers providing direct supervision.
Any vandalism or vehicle burning is promptly addressed under the law. However, preventing criminal activities remains a challenge.
The increased duties during opposition party blockades have also led to intensified responsibilities for intelligence officers and even traffic department members, resulting in additional night shifts following morning duties.
The officers-in-charge of several police stations within the DMP pointed out the multifaceted responsibilities, including managing hartal-blockade incidents, controlling criminal activities, making arrests, and addressing warrant-related issues.
They said that every member of the police station has to be more active than ever before. Everyone has been instructed to be vigilant about personal safety while executing duties.
Between October 21 and November 4, the DMP reported the arrest of 2,172 individuals in politics-related and sabotage cases in various areas of the capital.
Additionally, more than 50 cases of vandalism and violence were recorded during this period.
What top officials say
DMP Joint Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarkar said: "Crime control is an integral part of our daily activities. We collaborate to enforce the law and prevent crime without facing any significant challenges."
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Dr B Mahid Uddin said: "Law enforcement agencies need to be more vigilant to prevent sabotage or any untoward incidents during political programs. Nevertheless, our law enforcement members are actively engaged in identifying criminals, executing warrants, and preventing incidents such as theft and robbery."