361 police stations resume operations amid strike, officers work undercover

Operations have resumed at 361 police stations across the country, including 29 in Dhaka, as police officers begin to return to work. However, more than half of the force remains on strike, standing firm on their 11-point demand, which includes increased security for their lives.

Senior police officials, including the police chief, are actively holding meetings with local leaders in various districts to calm the situation and bring the striking officers back to work. 

According to sources from the Police Headquarters, many of the returning officers are working undercover, and some general diaries have already been filed at reopened stations. The military is providing security at these stations.

The new Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam had issued a deadline for the striking officers to return to work by Thursday evening, but most did not comply. Out of the 639 police stations nationwide, 50 are in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police area.

Police stations across the country had been under attack following the fleeing of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina after a massive student-led movement. 

These attacks resulted in the deaths and injuries of many police officers, forcing others to retreat. This led to a rapid collapse of the country's policing system and prompted the ongoing strike by subordinate police members, who are demanding security and other benefits.

"We urge the public to trust us. We are making efforts. We cannot deny that today's situation is due to our mistakes or failures. We will try to overcome these and continue to serve the public genuinely in the future," said Mohammad Mohsin, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon police station, where operations resumed around 11am. 

Army personnel and Ansar members are assisting with security at the station.

Gulshan police station OC Mazharul Islam reported that there have been no attacks since August 5 and that normal operations have resumed.

In Chattogram, most police stations and court operations have restarted on a limited scale with undercover officers. Many officers have not yet returned, and severely damaged stations remain closed.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police's Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations), Abdul Mannan Miah, told TBS, "We have resumed operations at almost all stations except for a few. We are working on reopening the remaining ones. Operations are running on a limited scale, but we are making every effort to serve citizens."

IGP Md Mainul Islam visited Rajarbagh Police Lines last evening to speak with protesting police members and hear their grievances. "We are all one family. Your demands are my demands. We will resolve everything through discussion. Please return to work," he said.

Despite these efforts, the majority of striking officers have not yet returned to work. The IGP has invited representatives of the protesting officers to a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday to discuss their demands. However, the officers have not yet decided whether to attend.

Constable Shoaibur Rahman, one of the coordinators of the Bangladesh Police Anti-Discrimination Students' Central Committee, said "We have not yet decided on attending Sunday's meeting. We will not return to work until our safety is ensured. The entire police force must be reformed, and a new force established."