Twenty-two police stations out of 50 under Dhaka Metropolitan police stations had been entirely damaged and their arms and ammunition had been looted.
DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan on Saturday provided a brief description of the damage caused during the recent violence
DMP's media centre organized the “Meet the Press” event on Saturday where Mainul made the comments.
The DMP boss said some highly ambitious and non-professional police officers put the entire police force face-to-face with the public in the past.
"So, the mental strength of the police force was broken following the violence centring the student-public movement, mass upsurge and fall of the past government. Many policemen were killed and injured (in that violence). The field level cops went into hiding fearing to death and our infrastructures were damaged in many areas," he said.
Fourteen police personnel of DMP lost their lives during the protest. Police have never faced atrocious disaster like this, said the DMP commissioner.
As part of the measure to remove fear from the cops and maintain law and order, armed forces personnel have been deployed at each of the police stations, the DMP commissioner said.
"The presence of the armed forces personnel helped bring confidence in the police and improve the law and order situation," he added.
Alongside the armed forces personnel, the members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar extended all out cooperation while the students, people and some social and cultural organizations helped boost mental strength of the police force, he opined.
Mentioning that the traffic jam is the major problem of the Dhaka city, he said: "We need a coordinated plan, effective measures and wholehearted cooperation from the people and public awareness to address the traffic jam."
Mainul Hasan said that several people have been arrested and taken into remand in connection with cases related to the recent student protests.
These individuals are being questioned for allegedly providing financial support, advice, speeches, or statements that encouraged the Awami League government to suppress the student movement, he said.
When asked about accidents caused by some unprofessional police officers and whether any action has been taken against them, Mainul Hasan said: "Some police officers have already been named in several cases. Legal proceedings are ongoing, which may take some time. Departmental actions are also in progress."
Regarding whether the unprofessional police officers who have not been arrested are currently fugitives, he replied: "We do not have any information or evidence on that matter yet."
When asked if officers from other districts would be appointed to important positions in the DMP during his tenure, the commissioner said: “It is not important where someone is working from. Our goal is to build a well-organized and disciplined police force, where every officer works with professionalism."
When questioned about how trust can be restored in the police, given that some unprofessional officers still hold important positions, the commissioner said: "It is an ongoing process. It will take some time, but you will eventually see professional police work."
Regarding the use of firearms by leaders and activists of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, and other affiliated organizations of the Awami League during the protests, he said: "Some used licensed firearms, while others used illegal weapons."
When asked how long it might take to overcome the trust deficit, the DMP commissioner said: "It is difficult to specify a timeline. We are making efforts and seek everyone's cooperation. Without collective effort, the police will not be able to recover from this trauma."
The DMP was formed in 1976 with 12 police stations and 6000 policemen and now it has become the symbol of confidence and trust of the city dwellers.
The DMP commissioner paid rich tributes to the martyrs that include police personnel killed in the Liberation War and student-people movement.
High officials of the DMP were present during the meeting.
