Bangladesh crisis: Police call off strike; set to join work on August 12
The Hindu
Bangladesh police officers end strike after government promises to meet demands, following violent clashes and political turmoil.
“Protesting police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to call off their strike after the interim government assured them to meet most of their demands,” according to media reports on Monday (August 12, 2024.)
The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) declared the strike on August 6, following clashes across the country between police and students during the widespread protests against Sheikh Hasina's government over a controversial quota system in jobs.
The clashes led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led government and forced her to flee to India. Many police personnel did not return to work out of fear after the government's fall, and those who did went to the police stations in plain clothes.
The representatives of the strikes made the announcement of the strike's withdrawal after a meeting with the interim Home Affairs Adviser Brig. Gen. (retd.) M. Sakhawat Hussain on Sunday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
They said the police had been assured that most of the demands on their 11-point list would be met. Based on the meeting, it was decided that the protesting non-cadre police personnel will return to work from Monday (August 12, 2024), the bdnews24.com news portal reported.
"After the meeting with the Home Affairs advisor, we received assurances and we will wear our uniforms and rejoin work from Monday," the report quoted Sgt. Asaduzzaman Jewel, a member of an investigation committee formed by the Inspector-general of police, as saying.
Interim Home Affairs Advisor Sakhawat said those who ordered excessive force were at the political level and no wrongdoers would be spared. He added that an investigation would be conducted.
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