Sirajul Islam Shishir:

Though, two Police Stations in Sirajganj have started providing emergency services from rented buildings after arson attack and vandalism carried out during the Quota Reform Movement, the full-fledged activities of the Police Stations have not yet been resumed due to manifold problems.

Many police personnel can’t perform their duties smoothly as the nightmare of the deadly day is still haunting them.

At least 14 cops and two demonstrators were killed in the violence at Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj district on August 4 during the Quota Reform Movement.

The demonstrators attacked and torched the police station, vandalized the furniture and looted valuable instruments along with arms and ammunitions.

Similarly, the protesters set Hatikumrul Highway Police Station on fire and looted arms and valuable instruments of several cases on August 5.

The demonstrators also set three pick-up vans, one private car and five motorcycles on ablaze at that time.

After fall of the Awami League government and fleeing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from country, higher officials of Army and police visited the spots and talked with local people including several professionals. They assured to resume the activities of the police stations with the aim to serve for people and ensure security to the peoples’ properties.

Then, the activities of Enayetpur thana were resumed at a rented building of local NGO named Manob Mukti Sangstha (MMS) and activities of Hatikumrul Highway thana were resumed at another two-storied rented building at Panchila area beside the Dhaka-North Bengal highway.

Kamal Hossain, Officer in Charge of Enayetpur police station said, “We are carrying emergency services from a rented building nearby our previous police station as the thana building was severely damaged by the protesters. We are trying to recover the arms looted during the movement. However, we are facing some problems due to lack of own building or office. We are expecting that the damaged thana building will be renovated as soon as early. After repairing of the building, we hope to go back there in which we can perform our duty smoothly.”

MA Wadud, Officer in Charge of Hatikumrul Highway police station said, “We are facing problem to patrol about 96 km of highway due to lack of pick-up van as the protesters torched all of our pick-up vans and other vehicles. At least 20,000 vehicles from about 16 districts of the northern region ply throughout the highway daily. Besides, our staffs and officers are facing residential problems severely.”

Farukh Hossain, Superintendent of Police in Sirajganj said, “Normal activities are being hampered slightly due to burning of the police stations. High-ups of the police department have visited to the police stations recently. Police personnel will go back to the police stations after completion of renovation works. Then, all the problems will be resolved.”