Two issues, including the “immunity” of perpetrators for the killing of their colleagues, have led to frustration within the police.
The other matter they are unhappy with is being questioned about their roles during recent student-led protests by the International Crimes Tribunal.
Police officers said justice should be ensured for every murder, claiming that only protester killings were being prosecuted, creating doubts about whether justice would be served for the killings of police officers.
The home ministry issued a directive on Monday saying no cases, arrests or harassment should occur against anyone involved in the student-public protests between July 15 and August 8.
This has raised questions in some people about whether the police officers killed during that time will receive justice. Additionally, those affected by the killings, looting and arson across the country between August 5 and 8 might also be denied justice.
Sources familiar with the matter said the issue of immunity came into discussion after the recent arrest of three teenagers in Noakhali.
Police arrested them in connection with the murder of two police officers on August 5 and also reportedly found recovered the mobile phones of the deceased officers from them.
The arrests faced opprobrium on social media from several coordinators of the recent protests.
Later, however, one key coordinator, Sarjis Alam, clarified that the arrested teenagers had not been part of the student movement and were members of a local teen gang called "Bullet."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs, following the arrests, issued its instruction granting a type of immunity for acts from July 15 to August 8.
According to Police Headquarters, 44 police officers were killed during the protests. Among them, at least 15 were killed in a single attack on August 4 on Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj.
While a case was filed over the attack and killings, Police Headquarters could not confirm how many cases had been filed on behalf of the slain officers.
The investigating officer of the case at the police station, Inspector SM Kamal, said not a single person had yet been arrested in this connection.
Multiple officers alleged that not all officers killed had been on duty; some had been killed while returning home in plainclothes and others brutally beaten to death near their homes.
According to police sources, on July 19, Inspector Masud Parvez Bhuiyan of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was beaten to death by “protesters” in Rampura.
He was on leave and at home on the day of the incident. When he went outside in the evening, he was attacked by a mob.
On July 23, his wife, Marina Akter, filed a murder case at Khilgaon police station, accusing activists of the BNP and Jamaat as well as several unidentified individuals.
No one has been arrested over his murder yet, and his colleagues fear that the case faces an uncertain future.
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said murder was a criminal offence and should never be exempt from prosecution.
“Not pursuing justice would be an injustice to the victims' families. However, it seems unlikely that the victims' families will receive justice in these cases, which now remain in limbo.”
Tribunal letter
On October 3 and October 6, the International Crimes Tribunal sent two separate letters requesting a list of police officers stationed in Dhaka from July 16 to August 5.
The tribunal also requested certified copies of force deployment records for July 18-19 and August 3-5 as well as ballistic test reports, if available.
It sought the names, designations and responsibilities of officers in the DMP Crime and Operations division from July 16 to August 5.
A police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, said officers ranging from constables to middle-ranking personnel followed the DMP commissioner’s orders.
No police officer could ignore a roster assigned by the commissioner without facing suspension or transfer, the officer noted, adding that field-level officers could face harassment over this list, even though they had merely been following orders.
The officer further explained that the police regulations outlined what officers could and could not do.
“Although illegal verbal orders should not be followed, there is a strong culture of obeying verbal instructions from superiors. For example, in situations requiring immediate action, such as controlling violent clashes, verbal orders to use force are common. Police officers may need to use firearms to prevent the destruction of public property or defend themselves.”
The officer questioned why field-level officers were being harassed for following orders.
Several police officers pointed out that the politicization of the police force was a significant issue.
They said excessive politicization had led some officers to act recklessly, and while specific cases of misconduct should be addressed, a broad approach could demoralize the entire force.
If this continued, no one would be willing to take responsibility in the future to combat lawlessness or prevent chaos, they added.
