Police to resume investigations into cop killings during uprising

Police have been asked to resume stalled investigations into the murders of policemen during the student-led July uprising, sources at the home ministry and police headquarters told The Business Standard.

According to police headquarters, a total of 44 policemen – from constable to inspector rank – were killed during the uprising in 2024.\

TBS Highlights

In Sirajganj alone, 13 policemen of Enayetpur Police Station were killed during attacks during the uprising.

Police personnel from different ranks have been demanding a fair probe into the killings of their colleagues. Although the interim government had initially promised an investigation, that commitment did not materialise.

Green signal after political transition

Several sources at the home ministry and police headquarters told The Business Standard that soon after the BNP-led government assumed power and Salahuddin Ahmed took charge as home minister, the Bangladesh Police Service Association demanded a fair investigation into the cases that had remained stalled during the interim government.

A home ministry official told TBS yesterday (25 February) that police had been instructed to resume investigations.

"In his first week in office, the home minister gave a green signal to resume the probe into the police murder cases," the official said.

TBS reached out to the home minister and his senior information officer for comment, but neither had responded at the time of filing this report.

Investigations stalled during interim period

Although the interim government announced that 44 policemen were killed during the uprising, only five murder cases were filed with police stations across the country, and no arrests have been made in connection with those killings.

Police officials said multiple units had collected video footage and other evidence before and after the attacks. However, they alleged that the police headquarters could not proceed with investigations as no formal approval was given during the interim government.

On 12 October 2024, then deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division), Sarwar Jahan, told a press briefing at the DMP media centre that legal action would be taken.

"Legal action will be taken against those responsible for the attacks on police that led to fatalities on August 5."

He added that although cases related to protests and unrest leading up to the August 5 incidents had been closed, legal measures were still being pursued for serious crimes, including murder.

He also said the DMP commissioner had been clear about continuing legal procedures in these cases.

However, the official was transferred soon after making those remarks.

Families speak of trauma and stigma

The Business Standard spoke to at least three families of slain policemen, who declined to be named.

One widow, speaking over the phone and struggling to hold back tears, said the past year and a half had felt like a decade.

"We have been labelled as the most notorious criminals. We could not even speak out seeking justice for ourselves. The children are traumatised – they cannot even say they come from a police family," she said.

Another family member described the BNP government's decision to resume the cases as a "false dawn."

"We were betrayed during the interim government. We were assured that justice would be delivered, but in reality we went through trauma and humiliation. The new government may resume the cases, but we are not very hopeful about the outcome," she said.

Fresh directive and expanded investigation

A deputy inspector general at police headquarters told TBS on Wednesday that a special verbal message had been sent instructing police to investigate and file cases related to attacks, arson and killings of police personnel.

"We will now investigate each incident in depth. Even though we have sufficient evidence, investigations were stalled due to inaction during the interim government," he said.

"If cases are filed, some powerful figures could be implicated. The new home minister has said an investigation will definitely be conducted."

He further said that a special operation may be launched to apprehend prisoners who escaped during the unrest. Authorities have decided to seek Interpol's cooperation to capture them.

He also said cases involving student and civilian deaths would be investigated quickly and charge sheets filed. "Those directly involved will be booked. No one will be spared," he said.

Police sources said meetings are now being held regularly regarding the investigation strategy and the identification of suspects. CCTV footage from inside, outside and around damaged establishments has been collected, and some suspects have already been identified.

Three cases were filed at Jatrabari Police Station under DMP and two at Kotwali Police Station under CMP. In those cases, many accused are listed as unknown. The complainant in the cases is the police themselves.

A police officer said, "More cases will be filed soon regarding police killings, arson at police stations and looting of weapons. Criminal offences do not expire. Investigations into killings and looting are underway. Multiple teams are working to identify those responsible."

Parallel cases and widening investigations

According to police sources, leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations, along with some members of law enforcement agencies, indiscriminately attacked and fired on students and members of the public to suppress the movement.

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, more than 2,000 cases were filed nationwide against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League leaders and activists, and police officers and constables, police sources said.

Among those, around 612 are murder cases. At least 1,168 police members have been accused in those cases.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is investigating 68 of those murder cases, where 99 police officers are accused. Other cases are being investigated by different units, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The accused list includes police personnel from the rank of former inspector general down to constables.

According to police sources, investigating officers often face discomfort while probing cases involving their own colleagues.

Technical investigations underway

A CID official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said call detail records (CDR) are being collected to verify whether the concerned police officers were present at the scene during the incidents.

He said command certificates (CC) are also being examined to confirm the authorised areas and operational responsibility specified in those documents on the day of the incidents.

CCTV footage from the relevant areas is being collected to check whether any officer left his mobile phone at home or concealed his command certificate before moving to another location.

Footage broadcast by television channels and images published in newspapers are being collected and analysed. Letters have been sent to several television stations requesting access to footage, the official said.

Case statistics across regions

In cases filed in police stations and courts, ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun have been accused, along with other senior leaders, ministers, police officers and bureaucrats.

The highest number of cases – 333 – were filed in Dhaka, according to police sources.

Additionally, 148 cases were filed in the Dhaka range, 20 in the Chattogram range, 22 in the Rajshahi range, 15 in the Sylhet range, 16 in the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), 10 in the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), three in the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), 10 in the Khulna range, eight in the Rangpur range, five in the RMP, and seven in the Mymensingh range.

'Criminal offences cannot be indemnified'

Human rights activist Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir said the violence during the 2024 anti-government student-public movement inflicted deep wounds on the state and society.

"During attacks by sections of agitated crowds, at least 44 police members, one BGB member, two RAB personnel and two Ansar members were killed," he said.

Some were beaten to death and their bodies desecrated, incidents he described as deeply tragic.

At the same time, indiscriminate firing on protesting students by law enforcement agencies, burning of bodies and excessive use of force raised serious human rights concerns, he said.

He noted that decisions taken during the interim government period that provided immunity in some incidents effectively stalled the judicial process in police killing cases.

"But criminal offences cannot be indemnified. Murder can never remain outside the purview of justice," he said.

He described the newly elected government's decision to file cases and resume investigations into the killing of police personnel as a positive step, saying it upholds citizens' constitutional right to justice.

Citing Nepal as an example, he said legal measures were taken there over police deaths during political upheaval.

"Bangladesh must ensure impartial, transparent and politically uninfluenced investigations into all deaths, regardless of affiliation. Only justice can restore trust and stability in any country," he added.