Questions are mounting over the police’s role after a violent midnight raid at a Gulshan residence led by a group of students and the public.
There was chaos, vandalism and destruction at the residence of former lawmaker Tanveer Imam in Dhaka’s Gulshan around midnight on Tuesday on the pretext of a “raid.”
The allegation was that several Awami League leaders were in hiding there and that a large amount of illegal weapons and money were being stored.
During the operation, a group of students conducted a search, and in the presence of journalists, parts of the house were vandalized. There was also allegedly an attempt at looting.
The police later arrested three individuals in this connection.
However, there are claims that law enforcement agencies were aware in advance of the operation and search.
Some alleged that the police could have stopped it beforehand.
Notably, a similar search was conducted at the same residence on Monday night, in the presence of the police, based on same allegations.
What happened?
At around 11:30pm on Tuesday, a group of students and people gathered in front of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan. About half an hour later, they marched to the Concord building on Road 81, Gulshan 2, where Tanveer’s former wife resides, and attempted to enter the premises.
Witnesses reported that when the security guards at the gate tried to stop them, some students climbed over it and entered the premises. Later, the gate was opened, allowing over 100 people to enter the building's fourth floor and conduct a search.
During the search, they inspected various rooms, opened suitcases and safes, and ransacked the furniture.
What did the police do?
Student representative Rajib Hossain claimed that both Gulshan police and the army had been aware of the search in advance.
"We had been in contact with the police since the morning. The police informed us that they would not be directly involved in the operation but would join after the search began. Additionally, we brought journalists along on the police’s advice."
However, Gulshan police station Inspector Mokhlesur Rahman categorically denied this claim. “The police did not give any such instructions.”
He said: “In fact, some students came [to us] with the same allegations on Monday night. At that time, we accompanied them to search the building’s fourth floor, but nothing was found, and they left."
The officer added that the trend of conducting such searches based on allegations of Awami League leaders being in hiding or illegal weapons being stored was increasing.
However, the police’s responsibility was to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents, Mokhlesur said.
What was found?
Those conducting the raid claimed that illegal weapons, drugs and a large amount of money were being stored at Tanveer’s residence.
However, nothing of the sort was found during the search.
About half an hour after the operation began, Gulshan police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. They interrogated the student-public group and gradually dispersed them.
Neither Tanveer Imam nor any of his family members were present at the house during the operation; only a few staff members and workers were there.
Allegations of mob incitement
According to Rajib Hossain, the BNP's transport workers' wing leader Jewel Khandaker, also known as Kawsar, was the main planner and leader of this operation.
Rajib said the group had conducted the raid based on Kawsar’s advice.
"Kawsar informed us that some associates of the Awami League were in hiding at that house and that illegal weapons and money were stored there. After gathering information and verifying it ourselves, we decided to conduct the search."
Three arrested
Abdul Mannan, the caretaker of the building, filed a complaint at Gulshan police station, accusing the group of vandalism, attempted looting and security threats under the guise of a search.
The police later arrested three individuals in connection with the search and attack; Shakil Khandaker, 24, Jewel Khandaker, aka Kawsar, 48, and Shakil Ahmed, 28.
What should police have done?
The incident prompted questions among the public regarding the police's inaction. People are asking if the student-public group conducted the operation with police permission, why did the police not accompany them towards the building? Why did chaos erupt despite police presence? If such searches are illegal, what action will be taken against those involved?
Analysts suggest that law enforcement must take a responsible role in any search or complaint.
They say that if allegations are true, proper investigations should be conducted and action should be taken; otherwise, such spontaneous searches may lead to disorder and encourage people to take the law into their own hands.
Govt warning
After the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs urged the public not to take the law into their own hands.
The government stated that if there were any reports of illegal weapons or money anywhere, law enforcement must be informed, and they would take the necessary legal action.
Now, the key questions are what punishment the arrested individuals will face and what measures the government will take to prevent such incidents in the future.
