Law enforcers sustained more attacks in 2015 than in 2014, but the number of deaths this year was lower than last.
According to Police Headquarters, at least 8 to 10 law enforcers died in attacks in 2015. Some 64 died of all causes including illness, attacks and other causes during this period. In 2014, at least 102 policemen were killed in different incidents.
Separate data found that 57 policemen died of all causes in 2015, the corresponding number in 2014 was 107.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and military police were also attacked by miscreants in 2015.
Investigations of several incidents found increasing involvement of Islamist militant outfits in the attacks.
Here are some of the highlights of the attacks against law enforcers this year.
On January 17, a bus carrying policemen was firebombed at the Matsya Bhaban intersection injuring five policemen, one critically.
Constable Shamim sustained burn injuries and splinters to the head, succumbing to his injuries on February 5 after 19 days of treatment at Square Hospital.
On October 4, Sub-Inspector Shujaul Islam of Pabna’s Pakshi police was stabbed after being lured by his attackers over mobile phone. Shujaul was found dead the next morning.
On October 22, at the Darussalam police checkpoint in Gabtoli, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ibrahim Mollah was stabbed to death by miscreants. A man identified as Masud Rana was caught by the local crowd and handed over to police.
The ensuing murder investigation found that Mollah was killed by Islamist militants.
On November 4, twenty-four year-old Constable Mukul Hossain was hacked to death by machete wielding assailants on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway opposite Nandan Park in Ashulia. Constable Nure Alam was also injured in the attack but survived.
The attack took place less than 10 yards away from three armed policemen who ran for safety into the woods instead of coming to their colleagues’ aid.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence website.
But police said Shahadat, a Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative killed in a cross-fire incident soon afterwards, was involved in the Ashulia attack.
On November 10, Lance Corporal Samidul Islam was stabbed while on duty at an entry checkpoint at Dhaka Cantonment.
He was taken to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment. Jamirullah Islam Manik was arrested as a suspect in the attack.
The year started off amid violence as BNP activists firebombed commuters to enforce an unpopular nationwide blockade.
On the first day of 2015, Khilkhet police Sub-Inspector Kamal and Ansar member Helal Khan were injured in a bomb attack on Khilkhet market in the capital.
On January 5, another Ansar member sustained burn injuries when attackers set fire to a vehicle requisitioned by police in Dhaka’s Kadamtoli area. The same day, in the capital’s Fakirapul area, a police patrol vehicle was attacked, injuring two policemen.
During the blockade, attacks on policemen and other law enforcement officials were reported in Rajshahi, Jessore, Bagerhat, Habiganj, Comilla, Chapainawabganj, Lakshmipur, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Feni, Chittagong, Sirajaganj and several BNP-Jamaat strongholds.