In a major reshuffle in the police administration, the government on Tuesday night appointed new officials to three top positions—Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Additional IGP Md Mainul Islam has been appointed as Inspector General of Police (IGP) while Additional IGP AKM Shahidur Rahman made Director General (DG) of RAB, and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Md Mainul Hasan appointed as Commissioner (current) of DMP.
Earlier, the contractual appointment of IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has become void. DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman and RAB DG Barrister Md Harun-Or-Rashid have been attached to the police headquarters as additional IGP.
The reshuffle came in the wake of a complete breakdown of law and order across the country.
After taking charge, newly appointed IGP Md Mainul Islam has ordered all officers and forces to return to their respective units within 24 hours.
But no police personnel returned to their respective workplace till filing of this report at 8:00 pm on Wednesday.
Besides, newly appointed DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan has sought sincere cooperation of its all members and city dwellers in maintaining peace and order in Dhaka metropolitan area.
At a press conference held at the police headquarters on Wednesday, the newly appointed IGP said that legal action would be taken against certain ambitious and unprofessional police officers responsible for current unrest in the country.
He instructed, “Metropolitan police commissioners and district superintendents of police (SPs) will form citizen security committees in their respective areas. These committees will include senior citizens, professionals, student representatives, and political and media personalities.”
The IGP explained that these committees would play a crucial role in providing security to police stations and their surrounding areas. The final structure of these committees will be developed later.
“Officers and personnel from all metropolitan, district, river, railway, and highway police stations have been ordered to report to their respective police lines within the next 24 hours,” he added.
To maintain discipline in the police force, the IGP instructed his colleagues, “Refrain from making any claims, comments, or replies on social media.”
IGP Mainul Islam acknowledged, “We have not fulfilled the expectations of the public, especially regarding the logical movement of anti-discrimination students, leading to widespread anger and a possible sense of disillusionment.”
“But we have begun making efforts to address this. We hope the situation will improve soon. Our goal is to ensure the security of people’s lives and property, and everyone is instructed to return to work within 24 hours.”
Admitting operational errors in handling the student movement, the IGP stated, “Many people, including students, civilians, and police officers, have lost their lives.”
“As the IGP, I apologize for everything,” he said, calling for cooperation from all parties.
Mainul Islam expressed special gratitude to the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the patriotic armed forces, political leaders, media, civil society, and all respected citizens for their sincere efforts in ushering in a new chapter for the country.
After taking office, new DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan has sought sincere cooperation of all DMP members and city residents to maintain peace and order in the Dhaka Metropolitan area.
However, incidents of attacks, vandalism, arson and looting occurred in many police stations, including police headquarters, across the country on Monday after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and left the country.
The government faced accusations of using excessive police force to suppress the students’ quota reform movement, resulting in the deaths of many students, civilians, and police officers.
Following the attacks on various police stations, police personnel abstain from carrying out their duties. The law and order situation nationwide has deteriorated in the absence of police personnel, causing widespread panic among the general public.
Moreover, no traffic police were on the roads for traffic management across the country, including the capital, Dhaka. Students are controlling traffic in different parts of the capital.
Later, the authorities concerned deployed Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) members at the police stations across the country as there were no policemen there following recent attacks, vandalism, arson and looting by miscreants.
