TDS Desk

A large number of police establishments across Dhaka and other parts of the country were vandalized and looted during the violent clashes in July and August.

Alongside the destruction of government properties, the personal belongings of many police officers were looted or destroyed.

Although compensation has been provided for state losses, no initiatives have been taken by the police headquarters or the government to address the personal losses suffered by the officers.

The police headquarters lacks an official record of the personal damages or the number of officers affected in the attacks on August 5.

However, a list of government losses has been compiled.

Officers said that after the attacks, loss assessments were conducted at the station level, but personal damages were excluded. No directives were issued from higher authorities to compile such a list, leaving the matter overlooked.

Many officers mentioned they have no avenue to claim compensation unless the police headquarters takes the initiative.

The situation has been further complicated by the mass transfers of officers to different districts following the government’s fall.

This has made it nearly impossible for affected officers to visit the headquarters repeatedly to follow up on compensation claims. Consequently, most have lost hope of receiving reimbursement for their personal losses.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE NATIONWIDE

According to the police headquarters, 460 police installations nationwide were targeted during the anti-discrimination student movement.

Of these, 224 sites experienced arson, including 58 police stations, 26 outposts, 2 investigation centers, 106 police boxes, 29 offices, and 3 other facilities.

Another 236 installations were vandalized, including 56 police stations, 24 outposts, 10 investigation centers, 30 police boxes, 28 offices, 15 police line facilities, and 73 other structures.

In Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) areas alone, over 33 installations were damaged.

Of these, 21 police stations were vandalized, while 10 were set on fire. Looting occurred in most of the affected establishments.

DEVASTATING IMPACT ON PERSONAL LIVES

Most police officers reside in barracks attached to their stations. During the attacks, these barracks were subjected to extensive looting.

Personal vehicles were set on fire or stolen, and valuables such as money, mobile phones, laptops, and other personal items were taken.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Rafiqul Islam, who was stationed at Adabor police station during the attacks and is now posted at Sherpur Sadar police station, recounted losing two months’ worth of salary he had kept in his barracks.

“I thought I’d take the money home after the protests subsided, but everything, including my savings, was looted on August 5,” he said.

Similarly, SI Anisur Rahman, also from Adabor police station, had taken a loan of Tk 5 lakh on August 2 to build a house in his village.

Believing the station to be secure, he left the money there, only for it to be looted during the attacks.

Officers like them, numbering in the hundreds, lost not only their savings but also other valuables kept in barracks.

At Hazaribagh police station, looters vandalized and set fire to multiple vehicles and personal belongings.

SI Md Wahid’s brand-new Apache 4V motorcycle was among the items destroyed.

“Nobody knew what would happen next. We were all trying to save our lives,” he recalled, describing how looters took personal belongings, including cash and mobile phones.

FAMILIES CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE

In Dhaka’s New Market area, two residential police quarters housing families of officers were looted on August 5 and 6.

Fearing for their lives, families fled, leaving their homes vulnerable to plundering.

Over two days, looters made away with money, gold jewelry, furniture, and other valuables.

Despite the scale of the loss, no official damage report was prepared, and affected families have refrained from speaking to the media.

The attacks were not confined to the capital. In many districts, police stations and installations faced similar assaults, with reports of looting even extending to the village homes of officers.

WHAT LIES AHEAD?

When asked about the situation, AIG (Media and Public Relations) Inamul Haque Sagar acknowledged the significant personal losses suffered by many officers.

“We are working on this issue and compiling a list of affected personnel. Compensation will be addressed in phases,” he assured.