While the entire nation is mourning the horrific killings of the police during the nationwide student-public movement last year, a recent statement by the Chattogram Superintendent of Police (SP), Saiful Islam, has sparked widespread public outrage.
At an event, he said: โThe July unity is being destroyed by spreading various types of content. Tell the conspirators that Apa (Sheikh Hasina) will not return. Uncle will not laugh again.โ
The families of the police members have described this statement as insulting to the sacrifices of the policemen killed in the meticulously designed movement.
Unofficial sources claim that more than 3,000 police personnel have been killed during the movement. However, the police have officially reported 44 deaths.
The government also announced an indemnity for murders and other crimes that occurred before August 8.
The Chattogram SPโs remarks on the political situation and the violence against the police across the country are indicative of a deep conspiracy, analysts say, as they believe that such internal turmoil and ideological divisions in the country’s security system are becoming a major threat to national security.
SP Saiful Islamโs statements and past activities reveal that he has long believed in pro-Jamaat political ideology. In some of his posts on social media during the Awami League era, it can be seen that he praised the then IGP of Police Benazir Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Many consider this to be his duplicity and hidden political agenda.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 664 police stations and outposts across the country were attacked. 5,750 firearms and 6,51,609 rounds of ammunition were looted.
The looted weapons include Chinese rifles, shotguns, LMGs, SMGs, gas launchers and sound grenades. Police fear that the weapons have now fallen into the hands of escaped convicts, terrorists and extremists.
The attackers at Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj were aged between 17 and 22. Eyewitnesses said that the attackers were members of Jamaat-e-Islami’s student front, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and their activities were similar to militant tactics.
They attacked the police station with country-made weapons and firearms and also set fire to the OC’s residence. 17 policemen were killed in the incident.
The families of the victims are growing angry over the slow pace of the government investigation. The families complain that they feel deprived and neglected due to a lack of proper information and sympathy.
Police are still terrified
Meanwhile, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan on Saturday said that the police are in a very weak state now.
Seeking the cooperation of the journalists, he said: “The courage with which one of my policemen used to work earlierโnow three policemen are not showing that courage. The police are still scared.”
The GMP Commissioner said: “Do you know how many policemen were beaten to death on August 5? I am not defending that they were killed for their work. But the police are traumatised. The police are still traumatised.
“If you want the police to return to their previous state, it is not possible for us at this time. We are showing that we are working; we have made arrests within 24 hours. Do you appreciate these?
“Please, I request that you appreciate our work. Help us; we want to work. We could not prevent it, but we were able to detect it. I ask for your cooperation for prevention. Today, I will make only one request to you: give the police a chance to work again. The police have been subjected to public anger. The police have been traumatised from here.”
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