With students mulling an all-out blockade demanding quota reforms, there is speculation about law enforcement's role if it happens.
Students blocked key roads in Dhaka for two consecutive days, Sunday and Monday. They have also been obstructing traffic on various roads and highways across Bangladesh for four to five hours.
A total blockade may follow in the aftermath of their mass campaign on Tuesday, led by the "Students Against Discrimination” movement.
The capital city was paralyzed during the brief protests, causing significant inconvenience to the public.
Some months ago, when students organised protests demanding an extension of the age limit for government jobs to 35, police did not allow them to stage a sit-in at Shahbagh and even arrested 12 protesters.
Now questions have arisen about the passive stance of the police regarding the quota reform protesters.
Cause for leniency
Law enforcement officers said the students had taken to the streets over a matter currently under judicial review, and consequently, field officers and members had been instructed to observe the situation patiently.
Despite the public inconvenience, police had not pressured the protesters to clear the roads, but law enforcement’s approach might change with the total blockade, they added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akhter told this correspondent that police had been instructed to monitor and keep the situation under control with patience during the protests.
But if anyone engaged in destructive activities under the guise of protests, police would take legal action, he warned.
A number of police officers said the government had directed them to avoid clashes with the protesters.
Students announce daylong Bangla Blockade on WednesdayThe government had tried to sidestep the issue due to its being a court issue, but persistent protests had prompted the administration to sit up and take notice, the officers added.
To prevent the situation from escalating, law enforcement is attempting to manage the situation calmly. In line with this approach, senior officials met with Dhaka University student Nahid Islam, coordinator of the movement, and two other leaders on Sunday.
However, the protesters maintain that they will only retreat with a justified solution to the quota issue.
Authorities say while some leniency might be shown for partial road blockades, a full-day blockade will not be tolerated. Senior law enforcement officers will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter. They prefer a political solution to the issue and are of the opinion that the promise of a reasonable reform of the quota system might convince the students to end their demonstrations.
Vandalism not to be tolerated
Meanwhile, intelligence sources suggest that a third party is trying to fuel the movement, and the students have called for a total blockade as a result. Intelligence agencies are monitoring the situation and discussing the next course of action.
One officer mentioned that senior police top brass were in constant communication with the government's higher-ups regarding the protests.
The government had emphasized preventing any destructive situations, especially given the current economic pressures, including dollar shortages and rising commodity prices, the officer added. “They have instructed law enforcement to handle the situation with utmost patience.”
A DMP officer told this reporter that the protesters had not engaged in vandalism or arson, and so had been given some leniency.
If they attempted sabotage on the pretext of a total blockade, it would be prevented, as ensuring public safety was the priority for law enforcement, the officer said.
“While temporary inconvenience might be tolerated, prolonged disruption is not acceptable.”
Waiting for PM to return
Meanwhile, a detective said with the prime minister currently in China, resolving the issue seemed unlikely until her return.
“Upon her return, there is a plan for the prime minister to invite the movement’s representatives to Ganabhaban for discussions to resolve the issue. Representatives of the government are in talks regarding this plan.”
Another source mentioned that the total blockade would be observed just like the initial two days of protests. Authorities would monitor the effectiveness of the blockade and the level of participation from general students before deciding on further actions, they added.
