Dhaka: Law enforcement and policing have taken a hit in troubled Bangladesh amid the on-going regime change with violent mobs attacking nearly 400 police stations and killing at least 50 law enforcers over the past two days, media reports said on Wednesday.
Many police stations of the country have no police personnel as most of the cops have taken refuge in safer places amidst the ongoing political turmoil in the country. Most of the senior officials who were considered close to previous the Awami League government have gone underground, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
According to media reports, around 400 police stations faced violent mob attacks in which arms and ammunition were looted and buildings were set on fire.
Media reports indicated that the attacks on police stations started on Monday afternoon into night at various police stations including Badda, Jatrabari, Vatara, Abador, Mirpur, Uttara east, Muhammadpur, Shah Ali and Paltan.
Confrontations erupted in many places between the security forces and violent crowds leaving many police stations in ruins. Chairs fans, tables and other items were pilfered by protesters, media reports said.
A senior police officer said, “No one feels safe in their police stations and offices as more than fifty police personnel lost their lives in the violent protest and public outrage that started on Monday.
The exact number of causalities remain uncertain due adverse circumstances, reported Dhaka Tribune.
A superintendent of police located outside Dhaka said it will be a time taking process to reinstall as due to extensive destruction. He further said, we never faced such a situation after 1971.
Police officers expressed their discontentment over the politicization of police and barring them from carrying out their duty of enforcing law and order independently.
