On the afternoon of 13 February, at precisely 2:45pm, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mezbaha at Vatara Police Station greeted a service seeker with a warm and professional, "Assalamu Alaikum. Please have a seat. How may I assist you?"
The individual had arrived to file a General Diary (GD) regarding the theft of a water meter and was met with an unexpected level of attentiveness and courtesy from the officer.
This shift in approach is not confined to Vatara alone.
Over the past two days, visits to Uttara East, Paltan, and Ramna police stations, alongside conversations with relevant personnel, have revealed a marked transformation in both police conduct and station environments across the capital.
Following the events of 5 August last year, police stations that bore the brunt of damage have undergone significant modernisation.
From revamped infrastructure to improved seating arrangements, the physical landscape of these stations has changed.
More significantly, a newfound commitment to public service is evident among officers, who appear determined to rebuild public trust through proactive and courteous engagement.
Changing the face of policing
While stationed at various police posts, duty officers displayed a notable departure from the brusque behaviour once synonymous with law enforcement interactions.
Officers were observed responding to complaints with diligence, swiftly deploying teams to incident sites, and maintaining a respectful demeanour toward citizens seeking assistance.
Several officers acknowledged the evolving ethos within the force.
"We are here to serve the public, and it is our duty to provide legal assistance to victims," one officer remarked.
"While we do encounter challenges in carrying out our responsibilities, we strive to ensure no innocent individual suffers due to police actions."
At 1:10pm on 13 February, a constable named Shafiqul was stationed at the entrance of Uttara East Police Station.
Inside, Sub-Inspector Subal and a female officer were attending to visitors.
A citizen seeking to file a GD for a lost vehicle tax token was promptly accommodated.
"Please take a seat; I will process your GD shortly," said the officer before swiftly completing the procedure.
The individual, Ali Azam, later shared his positive experience.
"I lost my RAV4’s tax token on 2 February in Uttara’s Sector 4. Upon visiting the station, I found the officers to be cooperative and efficient. It was reassuring."
Meanwhile, at 1:20pm, officers had just returned for lunch when the Officer-in-Charge (OC) emerged from his office, instructing his team to dispatch a unit immediately to BDR Market, where a disturbance had erupted.
Reports indicated an attack at the Uttara Nursing Institute. Without hesitation, officers abandoned their meals and rushed to the scene.
In conversation with the press, a duty officer candidly noted, "The public still views the police with suspicion, yet when trouble arises, it is to us they turn. We are working to rebuild trust and strengthen our connection with the people."
OC Mohammad Shamim Ahmed of Uttara East Police Station provided further insights: "We handle 20 to 25 GDs or complaints daily. Though our jurisdiction is geographically smaller than other Uttara division stations, it houses a substantial number of VIP residents. While major crimes are less frequent, we often contend with unexpected issues."
Bridging trust with the public
At 2:45pm on 13 February, the Vatara Police Station compound still bore remnants of 5 August’s unrest, with damaged vehicles littering the roadside. Inside, Sub-Inspector Dibakar and ASI Mezbaha were engaged in assisting citizens.
Dibakar was writing up a complaint, while Mezbaha was conversing with an Indian national, Jubair Ahmed, who had lost his passport.
Though Ahmed understood Bengali, he struggled to speak it, yet the officer patiently communicated with him in English.
A resident of Lucknow, Ahmed is married to a Bangladeshi woman and resides in Bashundhara.
"I have visited police stations before, but I must say, the Bangladeshi police have been exceptionally cooperative," he remarked.
His GD was processed without delay.
Beyond Ahmed, others had arrived seeking assistance, including a resident of Baridhara filing a GD regarding a stolen water meter.
The process was seamless, ensuring he could obtain a new meter upon submitting the necessary documentation to the relevant authorities.
SI Dibakar reported that between morning and 3pm that day, 30 to 40 GDs had been recorded, though no cases related to threats had been filed.
Meanwhile, OC Mohammad Mazharul Islam assured, "We are committed to delivering 100% service to the public. A few months ago, operational constraints hindered us, but now our personnel are reaching out to citizens promptly. As soon as we receive a report, we deploy a team to the site."
Addressing fraud and disputes
At 2pm on 16 February, Paltan Police Station presented a stark contrast. Though officers were on duty at the entrance, the premises were relatively quiet.
Inside, Sub-Inspector Shahjahan and a female officer were assisting Jahidul Islam Jewel, who was filing a complaint against 'Vizcom Travel & Tour'.
"In March last year, I paid Tk28 lakh to this agency to arrange travel to Malaysia for six people. They provided visa documents but failed to facilitate the journey. Now they neither return our money nor communicate with us," Jewel explained.
The duty officer promptly assured him that police action would be taken upon submission of the complaint.
Meanwhile, the station’s OC was unavailable, having been dispatched for a field inspection.
SI Shahjahan reported that 20 GDs had been recorded since morning, the majority concerning lost items.
At 3pm on 16 February, Ramna Police Station’s duty room was observed handling service seekers, continuing the trend of improved efficiency. However, some structural and procedural challenges remain.
The evolving face of Dhaka’s police stations signals a departure from past grievances, with officers prioritising public service and transparency. While challenges persist, the growing professionalism and commitment to reform suggest a more citizen-centric approach to law enforcement in Bangladesh.
