The fall of the previous Awami League government was followed by Bangladesh being plunged into a state of chaos -- in less than five days we have seen rampant vandalism, looting, attacks on minority communities, and countless deaths. The law and order situation has seldom been as bad as it currently is, needless to say.
A big part of this is due to the lack of any police presence throughout the country following the student movement’s ouster of the previous government. But with the establishment of an interim government, it is high time that our law enforcement got back into action and re-committed themselves to the duty they have sworn to uphold: To serve and protect the citizens of Bangladesh.
In the days following the fall of the government, we have seen police stations come under attack, looted, and even set on fire. We understand that being a member of law enforcement comes with certain risks, which is why, in the face of country-wide reports of looting, robberies, and attacks, now it is more important than ever for the wider public to also be cooperative with our law enforcement.
Thankfully, law enforcement activities are now starting to resume with the assistance of the military, with some 29 police stations being fully functional as of Friday.
Historically speaking, the wider public has always looked at Bangladesh’s law enforcement with skepticism, with the student movement against discrimination becoming something of a tipping point where law enforcement personnel were clearly seen shooting at protesters. Yes, we understand that a nation’s law enforcement is a mere reflection of its overall governance, which is why it is imperative for our police force to take this opportunity to reform itself alongside the rest of Bangladesh.
A new Bangladesh deserves a new police, one that is for the people not against it.
