After fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, incidents of vandalism, looting, attacks and sabotage were reported across the country, created anxiety in different communities including the minorities as well as the police.
In the absence of law enforcers, order has broken down.
With many police stations remaining unmanned and arms and ammunition looted, there is a sense of insecurity among the people in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Hundreds of police stations and police boxes were vandalised and set on fire.
Many cops were killed by mobs for their controversial actions during the Quota Reform Movement and mass uprising demanding resignation of Hasina government.
Following these incidents, police personnel abstained from duty and raised 9-point demand including their safety.
As dire situation prevails, students and activists of different communities and political parties are guarding temples, churches and pagodas and houses of minorities as well as police stations.
During visits to places and intersections in the capital, this correspondent saw students and political activists maintaining traffic on roads.
People in their vehicles were seen assisting the students in maintaining traffic order.
At the Supreme Court Intersection on Wednesday noon, this correspondent saw an angry rickshaw puller trying to breach rules by taking wrong side of the road.
Another rickshaw puller convinced him not to violate students' direction, saying that they were on roads from dawn to dusk in exchange of nothing.
"Will they get paid? No. In absence of the police, they are doing it for us for free. Listen to them," said the rickshaw puller.
Dozens of students were seen placing thatched fences, guarding vandalised Mirpur and Pallabi police stations.
Among other police stations, Uttara East, Khilgaon, Wari, Ashulia, Badda, Jatrabari, Adabor and Lalbagh police stations in the capital were set on fire.
Minorities are facing insecurity as a few incidents of attacks on their houses and temples were reported.
However, rumours circulated by social media exacerbated their fears.
For instance, people in the West Bengal spread news of vandalism in the house of Mashrafe Bin Mortuza, MP, of Awami League by distorting the fact as if the house of cricketer Liton Kumar Das had been vandalised.
West Bengal Police in an advisory requested all not to believe such rumours being circulated by social media during political developments in Bangladesh.
BNP, Jamaat, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Shibir also requested their leaders and activists across the country to remain alert about sabotage by miscreants and guard houses and places of worship of minorities.
Attendance in government offices was very low.
Bangladesh Army on Wednesday requested people to contact the nearest army camp if anyone faced sabotage, violence and death threats. The army provided contact numbers of army camps.
The Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR) issued a press release in this regard in the afternoon.
The ISPR said that army troops remained deployed to ensure safety to the people, their property and important government installations.
People were requested to refrain from misleading the army by providing false information and rumours.
Experts said that the police need safety before they resume duties. The police are facing insecurity.
They said that until order was restored nothing will work in the country. Order must be restored immediately and the government must take steps in this regard.
Security experts requested citizens to play proactive role performing duty as community police.
This would be a temporary solution to the problem, they said.
