In Bangladesh, a significant number of police personnel have yet to return to duty following the regime change on August 5. This absence of law enforcement has led to a severe deterioration in the law and order situation across the country. Members of the Awami League, religious minorities, and other vulnerable groups have faced increasing challenges and threats since last week.
On Sunday, M Sakhawat Hossain, the Home Affairs Adviser to the interim government, issued an ultimatum to the absent police officers. He stated that any police personnel who fail to report to duty by Thursday will be considered unwilling to perform their duties. Hossain also issued a stern warning to the media, threatening to shut down outlets if they are found engaging in flattery. “The media will be closed if you indulge in flattery. I promise you, if the media is flattering, then the media will be shut down,” he said.
Hossain emphasized the critical role of the media in presenting the truth, stressing that a country cannot progress if the media fails to report real facts. He criticized the media’s role in the current crisis involving the police force, accusing them of not publishing the true events at the time.
In a related development, thousands of people in the Moulvibazar district of the Sylhet division took to the streets on Sunday to protest attacks on local minority communities. The attacks, which included vandalism, looting, and arson targeting houses, temples, and businesses, have sparked widespread outrage.
The protest was organized under the banner of the Bangladesh Sanatani Samaj and took place in front of the Moulvibazar District Press Club around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. Thousands of people from various parts of the district, representing different professions and social strata within the minority community, participated in the event.
By: Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)