During the violence that erupted amid the quota reform and anti-government movements police headquarters, different units, and police stations were looted and attacked across the country.
Nearly 500 police stations were set on fire, leading to the deaths and injuries of many police personnel.
One such police station, Khilgaon police station in Dhaka, was damaged on August 5, the day Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
In the afternoon, the station was attacked, vandalized, looted, and set on fire. In an attempt to save their lives, the on-duty police officers sought refuge in the Rajarbagh Police Lines.
Although they have since returned to duty as per government orders, many officers have yet to return to normalcy due to various reasons.
Nevertheless, their enthusiasm for providing services to the public remains undeterred, and they continue to actively perform their duties, including regular patrols.
According to the station's sources, every room in the four-story building was looted.
More than 350 items were stolen from the station's storage, including seized cars, motorcycles, weapons, mobile phones, patrol cars, and other important equipment.
During a recent visit, the station's premises still show the marks of the attack, with charred black spots visible on the upper part of the building.
A few steps ahead, in the veranda, discarded and damaged police uniforms were found piled up in a corner.
The fire-damaged building is still under repair. While the ground floor has been hastily repaired and made usable, the three upper floors remain in poor condition.
The third floor, which served as a residential dormitory for officers and members, was entirely looted.
Many police officers were seen lying on makeshift beds on the floor, as everything from the dormitory had been stolen.
An SI (Sub-Inspector), who wished to remain anonymous, shared that he and many others were sleeping in the dormitory at the time of the incident.
After completing their night shifts, they had gone there to rest. While some officers managed to leave for safer locations as they sensed trouble, others, including him, struggled to escape.
They were awakened by loud noises and eventually fled for their lives.
Another SI said: "At around 2:30pm on August 5, only a few of us were inside the station. Most of our colleagues were on duty in different locations outside. For safety, the station's main gate was closed. However, we saw thousands of people gathering outside the gate. Eventually, the crowd broke through and entered the station. Fearing for our lives, we took off our uniforms and fled. We later sought shelter at Rajarbagh."
The station sources revealed that two to three officers were injured during the attack, but no fatalities were reported.
The Khilgaon police station employs 31 SIs, 31 ASIs (Assistant Sub-Inspectors), and 52 constables. Some are currently on leave, others are sick, and many have been transferred. The remaining officers continue to carry out their duties.
SI Mamun Mia, who was transferred from Faridpur and joined Khilgaon Thana on September 2, said: "It takes two or three months to get familiar with a new area. Once you become familiar, the work becomes easier. Currently, I am on duty at the station most of the time, serving as the duty officer. Around 100 to 150 people come to the station daily for services."
Regarding the situation, Khilgaon police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Daud Hossain said: "I have recently joined. What I have observed is that the officers and staff have not yet fully recovered from the trauma. Fear still lingers among them—whether they might face humiliation or insults during operations, these concerns weigh on their minds. The damaged building is still under repair, and except for the ground floor, there is no proper place to sit. The officers are facing hardships, but despite that, we are determined to stand by the public. We have intensified our regular patrols. Currently, all types of cases, general diaries (GD), and complaints are being submitted as usual, and we are taking action after investigating them. The response has been good."
The OC added: "The entire storage of the Khilgaon station was looted during the attack. Seventy-three weapons were stolen, of which 27 are still missing. We have managed to recover the remaining stolen weapons. We are preparing to file cases regarding the attack, arson, and looting."
