Bangladeshi police resumed patrolling in the capital Dhaka on Monday, ending a week-long strike that had led to a law and order situation deteriorating after a sudden gunfight. The removal of autocratic former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office,
After Hasina resigned and fled abroad last week, ending her 15-year rule, officials disappeared from the streets of this sprawling metropolis of 20 million.
He was forced to step down after the police were loathed for their deadly crackdown on weeks of protests that left more than 450 people dead, including 42 police officers.
Police had vowed not to return to work until their safety was guaranteed, but agreed to return after late-night talks with the new interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
“It feels good to be back,” Assistant Commissioner Snehasish Das told AFP as he stood at a busy intersection, regulating traffic.
“Now we feel safe, so we are back on duty.”
Student-led protests against the Hasina government had been largely peaceful until police attempted to disperse them violently.
Nearly 450 of the country’s 600 police stations were targeted by arson and vandalism last month, according to the National Police Union.
Some shops reopened last weekend, under the supervision of the military, an institution highly respected because it has largely refused to participate in the repression.
In the absence of police, Students who led the protests that ousted Hasina from power have volunteered to restore law and order Looting and reprisal attacks occurred in the hours after their departure.
They acted as traffic wardens, formed overnight neighbourhood watch squads and guarded Hindu temples and other places of worship, quickly quelling the unrest.
Das said there was “no tension” between the police and the students, who were performing their duty.
He said, “The students have done a wonderful job in the last few days. We thank them.”
Yunus’ “advisory council”, the de facto cabinet now running the country, said it had expressed “serious concerns” over some matters. Attacks on Hindus and other minorities.
In its first official statement on Sunday night, the Cabinet said it would work to “find ways to resolve such heinous attacks”.
Bangladeshi Hindus make up about eight percent of the country’s 170 million population and have been regular targets of violence during times of turmoil.
Hundreds of people have arrived at the Indian border over the past week, demanding to cross the border.
The leadership of Jamaat, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, said it would meet representatives of the Hindu community and other minority leaders on Monday in an effort to ease tensions.
Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India a week ago as protesters took over the streets of Dhaka, bringing a dramatic end to her hardline tenure.
His government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of his political opponents.
But new Home Minister Sakhawat Hossain said the government had no intention of banning Hasina’s Awami League party.
“The party has contributed a lot to Bangladesh – we don’t deny that,” he told reporters.
“When the elections come, he should contest.”
Interim leader Yunus returned from Europe on Thursday and will lead a temporary administration that faces the challenge of pushing forward democratic reforms.
The 84-year-old was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, and is credited with helping lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty.
He took over as “chief adviser” of the caretaker administration – comprising all fellow civilians except retired Brigadier General Hussein – and has said he wants to hold elections “within a few months”.