“The sight of shattered glass still brings memories of the violent incident. Duty no longer brings the same sense of satisfaction, and the public don’t regard us as before. A sense of anxiety lingers. We’re bearing the responsibility for our superiors, and we’re doing our utmost to restore public confidence in the police because we’re here to serve. If the gap between us and the people doesn’t close, our work will only become harder.
These were the words of Lalbagh police station Constable Ismat Ali, who is still trying to get past the experience of August 5 following the fall of the Awami League government.
Discussing the attack on the station and the fear among officers, he said: “When the announcement came that Sheikh Hasina's government had resigned, we heard that several police stations in Dhaka were under attack, and police officers were being assaulted.
“The news alarmed us on duty, and we took alert positions inside the station. The entire afternoon was spent in an unusual tension. Later, we received reports of people gathering outside the station. Around 8pm, a crowd of about a thousand people stormed the station and carried out acts of vandalism,” he added,
On-site observations reveal that, as of August 5, after the change in government, repairs on Lalbagh police station, which was vandalized by the angry mob, are still incomplete.
The broken glass walls of the station bear visible scars, and the nameplate is still torn. Even the door has yet to be repaired. A sense of unease lingers among the police officers on duty.
Ismat Ali described the damage: “That day, four vehicles parked in front of the station were vandalized, and one was set on fire. Most of the station’s doors, windows, and other items were destroyed. We quickly evacuated to safety outside the station. The enraged students and citizens broke into the station and looted weapons.”
Later, under the directive of the interim government’s home advisor, they resumed duty. After returning, Ismat learned that some of the looted weapons had been returned. He clarified, “While the public was angry that day, they didn’t attack us directly. Many even helped us get to safety.”
Ismat noted that although there were no physical injuries, the fear and anxiety from that day still linger for many. When asked if all the officers had returned to duty, he replied, “I can’t say who didn’t resume their duties later. Only the superiors would know that.”
An officer at Lalbagh police station, wishing to remain anonymous, said: “August 5 was the most frightening night of my career. The trauma from that day hasn’t faded. Previously, people would listen to our advice on the streets. But now, some openly defy the law and even threaten the police.
“We adhere to the principle of maximum tolerance as instructed by our superiors. We weren’t working for Sheikh Hasina personally; for the last 15 years, we’ve worked under a government. People shouldn’t harbor resentment against us. Police and citizens are supposed to be allies and support each other,” he added.
Lalbagh police station Duty Officer Oma Sarkar said: “I wasn’t on duty that day, so I can’t comment on what happened. However, the damage to the station is still visible, with almost every window and outer glass shattered. I can’t say much beyond that. For more details, speak with the senior officers or the officer-in-charge of investigations.”
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kashoinu said: “The overall situation at the station is now stable. The August 5th incident caused extensive damage. The vandalized vehicles have been repaired, and repair work is ongoing.”
On the subject of lingering fear, the OC said: “It’s normal for some trauma to remain. People had never been this angry to the point of attacking the police before. The distance between the public and the police can be bridged through our work.”
He also said that newly transferred officers have yet to join fully, but the current officers are working tirelessly to restore public trust.
