Following the fall of the Awami League government amid protests on August 5, incidents of vandalism, arson, and looting erupted across Bangladesh.
The police were also targeted, with several police stations set on fire due to accusations of siding against the protesters. As the situation escalated, many officers abandoned their posts.
However, after assurances from the new interim government, the police resumed their duties a week later.
Despite nearly two weeks passing since then, the smell of burning still lingers in some police stations, and many officers are struggling to overcome the psychological trauma. Out of fear, some have yet to put on their uniforms.
A visit to several police stations in the Dhaka Metropolitan area recently revealed the situation. At Paltan police station, for example, the signboard above the main gate remains torn.
A few steps further in, the scene worsens.
The walls of the four-story building are blackened with soot, and the inside has been reduced to rubble. The smell of burnt material still fills the air around the station. Similar conditions were observed at Adabor police station.
At Paltan police station, a duty officer was seen sitting on the balcony of the burnt building, while a newly appointed officer-in-charge (OC) and other officers of various ranks, including sub-inspectors (SI), were seen sitting under a tin-roofed shed across from the building.
With fewer cases being reported, the officers were also observed spending a lot of idle time.
While a few wore their uniforms, most were in civilian clothes.
A sub-inspector (SI), who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We have nothing left at our station. Everything has been destroyed and looted."
He added that the chair the duty officer was sitting on had been provided by an outsider. Since there is no computer at the station, they are temporarily working with pen and paper.
The newly appointed Paltan police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Molla Md Khalid Hosen, said: "Is this what the police look like now? No, it isn't. The police officers are still in trauma, but we hope to return to normal soon. We are working towards that goal."
At Shahbagh police station, activities were seen to be carried out under military security.
While the duty officer's room was operational, the offices of the OC and inspectors were locked.
In the open courtyard of the station, police officers were seen sitting around, but aside from lost GDs (General Diary entries), no significant complaints or cases had been filed.
With the absence of senior officers, Senior SI Moinul Islam Pulak was acting as the OC of Shahbagh police station.
He said: "Everyone except four officers is working regularly. Our lives have not returned to normal. We are still living in fear, especially because this area is near a university. Most of the officers are performing their duties in civilian clothes instead of uniforms."
He added: "All urgent work is currently ongoing, but fewer cases are being reported. Today, only one robbery case was filed, but many GDs are being registered."
A different situation was observed at Ramna police station, which was less affected.
Police officers there were seen to be busy, with the duty officer handling a significant workload. Although people were coming to the station for lost GDs, the number of complaints and cases was very limited.
Following the protests and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, all police stations across the country, including in the capital, were deserted.
As the police withdrew, the activities of all police units came to a halt. The police force also declared a work stoppage due to security concerns.
Four days later, on August 9, the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam, ordered all police officers to return to their duties at their respective stations across the capital.
The police resumed operations under the supervision and security of the military. By August 15, operational activities resumed in all police stations across the country.