DMP chief warns city dwellers against undermining police morale

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali has appealed to city dwellers not to attempt to break police morale through unrest, movements, or attacks using crude bombs.

He said that police morale has been restored after significant effort and warned, “Do not attempt to break the morale of the police again. Otherwise, like after August 5, you may have to patrol your homes with bamboo sticks at night.”

The commissioner made the remarks while briefing reporters on Thursday (November 20) after inaugurating the Cyber Support Centre of the Detective Branch (DB).

He expressed regret over how officers were treated while trying to prevent or counter acts of unrest. “I request those who behaved this way toward our officers not to repeat such actions. We do not want to engage in street conflicts; we want to serve you. Any such actions will create chaos in society, in Dhaka, and across the country. The people’s uprising has already happened. The government has changed, and if such activities continue, it will cause instability in society,” he said.

Regarding the crude bomb attack on a police officer in Pallabi, Sazzat Ali said one of his officers was injured on Wednesday night while stationed in front of a police station. “Attacking our officers in this way harms their morale, which ultimately affects all of us,” he added.

The DMP commissioner also recalled that after August 5, even an 80-year-old man had to patrol his neighborhood with a bamboo stick, warning that if police morale is undermined, citizens may again have to resort to such measures.

He concluded by urging, “To those engaging in acts of violence or attempting to break our officers’ morale through crude bombs, please stop. Let us all work together to stay safe and ensure well-being for everyone.”